We all see the postings.

The 5 Most Important Things in a Home Inspection or the 10 Most Serious Defects for an Inspector!….most of these articles are only partly right.

What really matters is to make sure your inspector is trained and knowledgeable. All inspectors in Texas must go through hundreds of hours of training to get their license. But after that, the state only requires about 16 hours a year. Not much for someone who must be knowledgeable of all your home systems and safety issues.

What really matters is to make sure your inspector has recent education and training and is committed to developing additional skills and deep knowledge. An inspector should be able to at least outline what classes he has had recently.

But after you have found a well educated and trained inspector what matters next

Buying a home is a fun time but also a time filled with stress and worry.

The process can be stressful. A home inspection is supposed to give you peace of mind but, depending on the findings, it may have the opposite effect. You will be asked to absorb a lot of information over a short period of time.  Your inspection will entail a written report, including checklists and photos, and what the inspector tells you during the inspection. All of this combined with the seller’s disclosure and what you notice yourself can make the experience overwhelming. What should you do?

Relax.

Home inspectors are professionals, and if yours is a member of InterNACHI as our inspectors are, then you can trust that he is among the most highly trained in the industry. InterNachi Inspectors must take a dozen or more additional classes each year to retain certification. Most of your inspection will be related to maintenance recommendations and minor imperfections. Don’t be surprised if even that new home or recent flip with all the beautiful remodeled kitchen and bathrooms has a laundry list of issues. These are good to know about even if they go on and on.

However, the issues that really matter will fall into four categories:

major defects, such as a structural failure;conditions that can lead to major defects, such as a roof leak;issues that may hinder your ability to finance, legally occupy, or insure the home if not rectified immediately; andsafety hazards, such as an exposed, live buss bar at the electrical panel.

Anything in these categories should be addressed as soon as possible. Often, a serious problem can be corrected inexpensively to protect both life and property (especially in categories 2 and 4).

Most sellers are honest and are often surprised to learn of defects uncovered during an inspection. It’s important to realize that a seller is under no obligation to repair everything mentioned in your inspection report. No house is perfect. Even new homes have issues. Keep things in perspective.

And remember that homeownership is both a joyful experience and an important responsibility, so be sure to call on your InterNACHI Certified Professional Inspector® to help you devise an annual maintenance plan that will keep your family safe and your home in top condition for years to come.

ServusPartners also offer annual or seasonal inspections to help the homeowner understand what they should work on next. Inspectors are the one person when buying or selling a home who has no incentive but to tell you about your home. They do not get paid more or less whether you buy or they find issues. A truly independent inspector who is thorough and takes their time to explain things to you afterward is one of the most important decisions you make when buying a house.

Enjoy the process and engage a Professional Real Estate Inspector to help with what matters the most.