A typical home inspection often takes around 3 hours and presents a great opportunity for homebuyers to learn and discover a lot about their prospective home beyond the insights of the home inspection itself. Oftentimes we are asked by our clients what they should do during the inspection. Here are some suggestions:
Explore the home:
Get more acquainted with the home. Prior to the inspection, you were likely only in the home for a brief amount of time, so this is a great opportunity to spend more time exploring the home.
Take measurements for furniture, appliances, window treatments and even the garage. If you forgot to bring along a tape measure, just ask your inspector if you can borrow one or even download a free digital measurement app such as this one: Moasure - smart tape measure.
Be curious. Ask your inspector any questions you have about the home. Although we are available throughout the inspection, it’s typically best to voice your concerns or questions to us up front to then review at the end of the inspection when we have a holistic view of your home.
Review your home permit history report to determine what permitted work has been conducted at your home in the past. Your permit history report can be found as an attachment on your inspection details dashboard and is complimentary with your home inspection.
Collect information for your homeowners insurance policy. Insurance companies will want to collect information on your home such as the estimated age of the roof, type of plumbing, electrical, etc. The inspection is one opportunity to work on this, but don’t worry, your inspection report will be full of this detailed information as well.
Go On a Scavenger Hunt:
Part of homeownership is knowing where things are located in and around your home. It’s our job as your inspector to provide you with this information, but it can be fun to find some of these things on your own.
Find the main water shutoff valve to the home (hint - it’s typically located on the street side of the home coming through or under the foundation wall. If your home is on a well, it’s typically near the well pressure tank.)
Find the furnace filter location and size (hint - the furnace filter is typically located at or in the furnace or at a central return air grill)
Find the closest coffee shop, restaurant, and park. The inspection is a great time to better acquaint yourself with your future neighborhood as well as the home.