A home inspection happens between the time you sign the sales contract and when you sit at the closing table, hand over the money, sign the mortgage, and get your keys. Because a house is the biggest investment most people will ever make, it's a time of high anxiety—especially for first-time homebuyers. Is this really the right house? Are there hidden problems? Is the roof alright? A professional home inspector can answer many, but not all, of your concerns about the house.

   We have done more than 8,000 home inspections over the years, and these articles are the result of all our experience and research, answering questions and solving problems for our customers.

Finding The Best Inspector For You

• How can I make sure I don't get screwed on my home inspection? 

• What questions should you always ask before hiring a home inspector?

• Are there any minimum inspection standards that a Florida licensed home inspector must meet?

• The seller gave me a report from a previous home inspection. Should I use it or get my own inspector? 

• I can't find a local home inspector. What should I do? 

• Should I only hire an inspector that is a member of a national association like ASHI or InterNACHI? 

• Do we really need a home inspection?

• Should I get a home inspection before signing a contract to buy the house? 

• Should I use a contractor or a home inspector to inspect a house I'm buying? 

• Should I use my realtor's home inspector or choose one myself?

• How much does a home inspection cost?

Getting A Good Inspection

• Should a homebuyer be there for the inspection?

• What questions should I ask the home inspector during the inspection?

• What should I bring to the home inspection?

• What should I wear to a home inspection? 

• What happens at a home inspection? 

• Should I follow the inspector around during the inspection?

• Who should pay for the home inspection? 

• Should I trust the Seller's Property Disclosure Statement?

• What are the questions a home inspector won't (or shouldn't) answer?

 • Can I do my own home inspection?

• What tips do first-time homebuyers need to know to get a better home inspection?

• How can I reduce the risk of an expensive surprise when buying a house sight unseen?

Additional Specialty Inspections

• Does  a homebuyer need to ask the seller's permission to do additional inspections after the initial one? 

• What different types of specialized home inspections can I get?

• How can not testing for radon be an expensive mistake for homebuyers? 

• Do I really need a termite-WDO inspection?

• Does a home inspector check the septic tank system? 

After The Inspection

• What repairs are required to be made after a home inspection?

• Does the seller have to make a repair requested by the homebuyer, even if the home inspector did not call it out as a defect? 

• What is the best way to negotiate repairs after the home inspection?

• The one home inspection question we get asked most often: "Will that be in the report?" 

• What makes a house fail the home inspection? 

• Can a home inspector do repairs to a house after doing the inspection? 

• Should a home inspection scare you? 

• Does my home inspection report give me everything I need to evaluate the price of a house?

• Does the seller have to fix all defects found by a home inspector to sell the house?

• Why is buying an old house sometimes the best choice?

Common Problems of Different House Types and Eras

• What are the common problems to look for when buying a 1950s house?

• What are the common problems to look for when buying a 1960s house?

• What are the common problems to look for when buying a 1970s house?

• What are the common problems to look for when buying a 1980s house?

• What are the common problems to look for when buying a 1990s house?

• What problems should I look for when buying a country house or rural property? 

• What problems should I look for when buying a house that has been moved?

• What problems should I look for when buying a house that has been vacant or abandoned?

• What are the most common problems with older mobile homes?

• What do I need to know about a condo inspection? 

• Why are older houses, specifically ones built before 1940, more difficult to evaluate for a home inspector? 

Should I Buy A…?

• Should I buy a house that has hurricane flood damage?

• Should I buy a house with hurricane flood damage that has been repaired? 

• Should I buy a house near a high-voltage power line?

• Should I buy a house that has been remodeled/renovated without building permits or has open permits? 

• Should I buy a house with structural problems?

• Should I buy a house with fire damage?

• Should I buy a house with a crawl space? 

• Should I buy a foreclosure house if the bank refuses to turn on the utilities (electric, water, gas)?

• What should I look for when buying a former rental house? 

• What should I look for when buying a house that is being "flipped" by an investor seller? 

• Should I buy a house with strong cigarette odor?

• What do I need to know about buying a foreclosure?  

• How can homebuyers protect themselves against buying a house over a sinkhole?

• Should I buy a fixer-upper? 

• Should I buy a house that is a former marijuana grow house? 

• Should I buy a house with a high radon level? 

• Should I buy a house with galvanized steel water pipes? 

• Should I buy a house with asbestos siding? 

• Should I buy a house that has had foundation repair? 

• Should I buy an older mobile home and remodel it? 

• Should I buy a house that needs a new roof?

• Should I buy a house with an old roof? 

• How can I avoid buying a house with clay soil heaving foundation problems? 

• Should I buy a house with sloping floors?

• Should I buy a house with no attic access hatch? 

• Should I buy a house with double-pane insulated glass windows that are clouded? 

• Should I buy a house with bouncy, spongy, or squeaky floors?

Inspections For Financing And Insurance

• What inspections does a bank or mortgage lender need for loan approval?

• Do I need a home inspection to get insurance? 

• Why does my homeowner's insurance want a four point inspection?

• Is the 4-point insurance inspection strictly pass or fail?

• Is a wind mitigation inspection report (OIR-B1-1802) required for homeowners insurance in Florida?

• Are a range and refrigerator required kitchen appliances for a house to pass FHA inspection?

• What is the difference between an FHA inspection and a home inspection?

• How do I get my home ready for a four point inspection for insurance? 

• What is the difference between an appraisal and a home inspection?

• Is it common for an insurance company to require an inspection? 

• How do I get insurance if my home can't pass a 4-point inspection?

What Inspectors Do And Don’t Inspect

• Does a home inspector inspect barns and other agricultural buildings on a farm? 

• Does a home inspector inspect outbuildings?

• Does a home inspector give cost estimates for repairs?

• Does a home inspector inspect in the rain?

• Does a home inspector remove the electric panel cover plate and examine the inside of the panel? 

• Can a home inspector do repairs to a house after doing the inspection? 

• Does a home inspector lift up the carpet to look for cracks in the floor? 

• Do home inspectors go on the roof? Do they get in the attic?

• What are the questions a home inspector won't (or shouldn't) answer?

• Does a home inspector make sure the house is up to code?

• Will the home inspector help a homebuyer get the seller to reduce the price of the house? 

• Does a home inspector need insurance?

• How thorough is a home inspector required to be when inspecting a house?

• Does a home inspector check for permits? 

• Does a home inspector have to be bonded?

• Does a home inspector check and test shut-off valves? 

• Does a home inspector check the plumbing under the floor slab?

• Does a home inspector do a leak test on the shower pan?

• Does a home inspector check the GFCI receptacles and breakers? • Does a home inspector check the paint finishes on a house?

• Does a home inspector check window blinds? 

• Does a home inspector check for Chinese drywall?

• Does a home inspector check the septic tank system?

• Does a home inspector fight for a home buyer to get repairs or a price adjustment after an inspection? 

• Does a home inspector check for lead paint? 

• Can a home inspector do repairs to a house after doing the inspection?

• Can a termite inspector  guarantee that there are no termites in a house? 

• Does a home inspector check for radon? 

• Is a shower pan leak test a required part of a home inspection?

• How thorough is a home inspector required to be when inspecting a house? 

• Does a home inspector check for termites? 

• Does a home inspector move things during an inspection? 

• Does a home inspector check toilets? 

• Does a home inspector check pools?  

• Does a home inspector check the windows? 

• Does a home inspector test all the windows and doors in a home? 

• Does a home inspector check every electrical receptacle outlet in a house?

• Does a home inspector check fences?