What to expect from a home inspection when you’ve just made an offer on a house and it’s been accepted? First, congratulations! That means it’s time to get your potential new home inspected. A home inspection must be performed by a licensed, certified evaluator. But what are they looking for, exactly?

Home inspections are limited, non-invasive assessments of a home’s condition. While an inspection won’t uncover every potential issue with a home, they are meant to notify potential buyers (and the banks funding the purchase) of any major damage or deficiencies. The inspector will take a look at appliances, the HVAC system, water heaters, and the structure of the home. 

After they have performed the inspection, you’ll receive a comprehensive report of everything they found. As you’re reading over this report, keep in mind that there is no such thing as a perfect house. The key is knowing what issues are worth worrying about, which your realtor will be able to help you determine.

If you’re looking at older homes your inspector is more likely to uncover more significant issues, like outdated electrical panels or cast iron plumbing. These features aren’t inherently problematic but could be the source of issues down the road. If there are certain items that have you worried, you can always bring in an expert to give you an idea of how much it would cost to remedy the problem. That way, you can move forward in the homebuying process with open eyes and reasonable expectations.