Home purchases represent one of the biggest investments a person makes during their lives, so it's crucial that all major defects or issues be taken care of prior to closing on any purchase agreement.
To avoid unexpected surprises, it's a smart move to have your house inspected prior to closing. But who can you entrust with this task?
Cost
Cost of local home and building inspections Melbourne depends on multiple factors, including size and age of property as well as whether or not it is single or multi-story structure. Some inspectors charge by the square foot, while others may offer flat fees or price according to type of building or home being inspected; in addition to homes, structures such as garages, sheds and fences are priced accordingly.
Older homes tend to cost more to inspect due to asbestos and lead paint hazards and require more time and attention from inspectors. Furthermore, some specialize inspectors charge extra fees for tests like infrared thermal imaging that costs $300-500 per house.
Finding an experienced inspector is easiest when asked for recommendations by friends who have recently purchased homes. Online search tools may also help narrow down your options and read customer reviews; just be sure you distinguish between a home inspector and building code inspector!
Experience
Experienced home inspectors will have plenty of insight to draw upon, enabling them to spot and identify problems other inspectors miss as well as make recommendations for solving these issues. A good way to judge an inspector's experience is through looking at reviews or customer satisfaction rating; alternatively you could ask previous clients for referrals.
Building inspectors are municipal employees responsible for upholding local regulations. If they detect violations, fines can be issued and corrections required or even the building condemned as uninhabitable.
AHIT's training approach is unparalleled: students learn all of the skills needed for success in this career - such as learning the 14 key components of home inspection, as well as strategies on starting and running their business successfully.
Reports
Home inspectors use their knowledge of local building codes to alert homeowners of potential issues and hazards that can occur in their home, report code violations and, in certain instances, issue citations; however they do not have the power to condemn a house.
Building inspections involve conducting an intensive examination of all aspects of a structure both internally and externally, including attic, foundation, basement or crawl space and attic space. Inspectors look out for signs of pest infestation or mold growth as well as structural problems or damages during their review of a building's interior and exterior surfaces.
Inspections are mandated by law for public and multifamily housing properties as well as housing choice voucher properties, so contact your public housing agency or property manager for more information about when these inspections will occur. It typically takes between 14-21 days before an inspector visits your home; depending on its scope of work and onsite time. A municipal inspector typically reviews public records concerning permits, zoning restrictions and compliance issues prior to arriving on site.
Insurance
Many home inspectors are uninsured, leaving homeowners vulnerable to legal issues and financial loss when hiring unqualified or uninsured inspectors. A reputable home inspection company should be licensed, certified, and insured - registered with your local government and featuring members on its website listing members of its team - while you can find one by asking friends who recently bought homes or browsing crowdsourced directories such as Yelp, NextDoor or Patch for reviews; independent non-profit advocacy groups like Consumers' Checkbook also rate home inspectors' ratings.
Municipal building inspectors conduct frequent checks during new-home construction to ensure it complies with local building codes, helping prevent problems later on. New York City landlords must conduct annual apartment inspections in order to protect tenants.
