What Is a Home Inspector? People use the services of a home inspector to assess the condition of a property. The inspector is looking for any defects or flaws in the property. This includes looking at the structure of the property like the foundation, roof, and interior and exterior walls, as well as the actual systems and services in the home, including plumbing, electrical, and HVAC.
The duties of a home inspector include:
Physical home inspection: Spending several hours at the property to examine it from bottom to top, inside and out Documenting issues: Taking notes on any issues found, as well as documenting the general condition of all structures and services (the estimated age of all items will be written down) Taking photos of issues: Photos will be taken of any problems or defects Advising buyers on necessary maintenance: Discussing what will need to be performed to keep all services in good order, such as changing the filter on the HVAC unit Advising buyers how to operate systems: Giving the prospective buyer tips on how to operate any systems in the home that they may not be familiar with Radon testing: Potentially performing a radon test Lead testing: Potentially testing the water for lead Offering referrals for sewer, well, termite or other inspections: Advising the buyer to get any additional inspections done on the property Preparing inspection report: Drafting a detailed report on their findings with recommendations on necessary repairs or building code violations
Knowledge and experience required: Beyond licenses and certifications, a home inspector needs to know about:
General construction: The inspector should have a general knowledge of construction to determine the integrity of the structure and specific items. Specific system: The inspector should have knowledge about specific items, such as furnaces, water heaters, HVAC units and electrical wiring. National and local building code: Must understand the legal codes. Clear communication: When explaining how systems works or specific issues to their clients. Detail oriented: When inspecting the property and preparing the report. Conflict resolution: Homeowners may be frustrated with a home inspectors findings, so the inspector must use facts and industry knowledge to diffuse these situations.
There are many home inspector cerfications. For example, the Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC) issues three levels of inspector licenses: Apprentice Inspector, Real Estate Inspector, and Professional Real Estate Inspector.
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