Home Inspection

Home inspection is just the starting point

If you are buying a home do not consider completing the sale without a home inspection. A small investment in an expert home inspector before you make a final financial commitment can save you significant aggravation and money later. 

It's a good idea to be present during your home inspection.  This gives you the opportunity to get answers to  questions you might have.  Be sure to ask your inspector if further inspections are needed such as a radon or other environmental inspections.  If so,  have these inspections done.  If you need more time to complete an additional inspections, ask the sellers for an extension.  Or, ask the sellers to provided you with the information you need.

Don't assume that just because you've had a home inspection  that you're finished with your due diligence investigations. Don't confine your investigations to the property boundaries.  For example, the drainage or sewer lines from the home you're buying might cross another property before hooking to the city sewer main or storm drain system. This may be a problem in the future if you want to make changes to your property.

A thorough home inspection doesn't cover everything.  For instance, most home inspections don't cover: the permit history on the property; septic systems and wells; wood destroying pest infestation; title issues, such as easements; environmental hazards like asbestos and mold; and security and irrigation systems.

A home inspection should be viewed as the starting point of your investigations into the condition of the property.  You shouldn't buy a home without having an inspection.  You also shouldn't assume that a home inspection would give you all the information you need to make an informed decision about whether or not to buy a property.

Home inspection reports usually include a disclaimer that lists the items that aren't covered.  The reports often suggest that the buyers complete further inspections. 

The main issue with building permits is that you could be required to correct a past owner's modifications to the property if the work was done without the necessary building permits.  This includes situations where a permit was taken out to do work, but a final clearance was never issued.