What Buyers Should Know About Home Inspections
Homebuyers should vet inspectors carefully, attend the inspection, ask questions and understand that reports cover only visible issues.
NEW YORK — Home inspections provide home buyers with the peace of mind they need to make a large purchase by assessing plumbing, HVAC, the foundation, wiring and the roof, among others. Choosing the right home inspector requires buyers to ask about the professional's basic qualifications and experience, as well as what the state's standards of practice require and what the inspector looks for in their assessments.
Each state has its own code of conduct and ethics, a list of conditions that should be assessed, and how to become a licensed home inspector. These standards are a starting point for an inspection, but potential home buyers should add to that list, such as fireplace inspections.
Additionally, buyers will want to review a sample home inspection report, contact a list of referrals and confirm that they can come to the inspection appointment. Asking about price, what training they have for swimming pool or solar panel assessment and confirming they are licensed to work in the state are also key interview questions, some of which can be property dependent.
Buyers need to be active participants in the home inspection process from beginning to end. Buyers should be observant throughout the process, making notes of stains on walls or ceilings, which could signal plumbing or roof leaks or smells that could signal mildew, among other issues.
Any items buyers notice should be brought to the attention of the home inspector either before their visit or during it. If a buyer is unsure of issues that the inspector mentions, ask for an in-depth explanation, as well as a potential timeline for repairs that may be needed. Inspections do not cover everything, only what is visible and accessible, which could mean a specialist is required to review septic or buried oil tanks.
Home inspectors are there to provide an objective assessment of the property, not to advise buyers on whether they should buy a property or not.
Source: New York Times (06/04/25) Heffernan, Tim
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