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What to Ask For in a Building Inspection
There are some basic questions you should ask your inspector:
- What does the inspection cover? The inspector should ensure that their inspection and inspection report will meet all applicable requirements.
- How long have they been a home inspector, and how many inspections have they completed? The inspector should be able to provide his or her history in the profession and perhaps even a few names as referrals.
- Are you specifically experienced in residential inspection? Related experience in construction or engineering is helpful, but should not replace training and experience in the field of home inspection.
- How long will the inspection take? The average on-site inspection time for a single inspector is two to three hours for a typical single-family house. If less time is taken, the inspection might not be as thorough as it needs to be.
- What type of inspection report do you provide and how long will it take to receive the report? Ask to see samples and make sure you can understand the report.
- Will I be able to attend the inspection? This can be a very educational experience, and an inspector should have no issues with you attending
- Do you maintain membership in a professional home inspector association? E.g. the New Zealand Institute of Surveyors
Some other questions you should pose throughout the inspection include:
- If the drainage around the home’s exterior is good, and how to keep basement areas dry
- When it comes to electrical issues, ask if there is knob and tube wiring or aluminium wiring, especially if the home is old. Both of these can make home insurance hard to acquire, and can pose fire hazards.
- Ask how old the plumbing systems are
- Ask how the heating system operates
- Ask about the structure of the house; whether it appears to be in good condition. Remember inspectors cannot see inside the walls, so their opinion will be based on external observations.
- Remember that a home inspector cannot tell you if you should buy the house or whether the price is right. The inspector will simply provide you with a guide that allows you to make an informed decision regarding whether or not you should purchase the home.