What’s Included In A Home Inspection Report?

Considering that the real estate prices in Florida are still skyrocketing, you can’t afford to make any mistakes if you’re in the process of purchasing a home. This is exactly why home inspections have a central role in any type of real estate transaction. 

Yet, once you get your home inspection report, you may feel lost. You’re not alone, as many first-time home buyers wonder what the report will contain and how they can decipher it. 

As one of the leading home inspection companies in Southeastern Florida, we’re happy to give you a crash course on home inspections - which may help you get the most out of a home inspection report.

What Does A Home Inspection Report Contain?

After the seller accepts your offer, you can schedule a home inspection performed by a licensed home inspector. Once they examine the home’s main features, they’ll create a report that assesses its overall condition. The report is generally comprehensive and covers all the major systems and components of a home, including a breakdown of any issues that may pose a health and safety hazard or have an effect on the home’s market value.

All the defects will have photos associated with them. 

What Does A Home Inspection Cover?

InterNACHI sets the guidelines for what a home inspection checklist should cover. Thus, you can expect the following features and aspects to be evaluated in the home inspection report you receive:

• Exterior of the home, including covering material such as the siding, soffits, eaves, windows, doors, stairs, walkways, porches or decks, drainage, retaining walls, and grading

• Roof, including checking the condition of the material it’s made of, gutters, skylights, chimneys

• Attic/crawl spaces - overall condition, insulation, and ventilation

• Ventilation in areas such as kitchen, laundry room, and bathrooms

• HVAC, plumbing, and electrical systems

• Interior of the home, including stairs, landing, windows, doors

• Garage doors

• Fireplaces

The home inspection report may contain other areas. For instance, we typically check the condition of the main appliances in the kitchen because we believe this provides you with an extra layer of information that adds to the bigger picture. 

Red Flags You Should Look For In A Home Inspection Report

Even though a report will lay out all the problem areas, many homeowners aren’t familiar with which issues are a huge red flag. Oftentimes, they overlook some items in the report and buy a property, only to later regret it when a contractor provides them with an estimate of a repair. 

Stay on the lookout for the following red flags:

• Water intrusion: if the inspector finds evidence of roof leaks, signs of previous flooding, or even an indication that a leak or flooding is likely to occur, it’s an issue that will cost a lot of money to remediate. For example, a few stains on the floor and the ceiling may not look like much, but they’re a good sign that a leak may happen again at some point in the future.

• Cracks in the foundation: any cracks (even those in walls or ceilings) could be a sign of a major structural issue that may take a lot of money to resolve.

• Storm damage: since Florida is prone to extreme weather conditions like hurricanes, pay close attention if the report mentions previous storm damage. This gives you a clear idea of what you can expect in the future. It’s also worth noting that you should inquire about the quality of repairs. Feel free to ask the seller to provide you with copies of storm damage-related insurance claims and receipts that document any subsequent repairs.

• Electrical problems: these issues are quite expensive to repair and pose a significant safety concern as they could potentially lead to a fire.

• Pest infestations: while rarely containing detailed information on pest infestations such as termites, a home inspection report may note it if the inspector came across any signs of an active or previous infestation. Critters like termites can not only cause extensive property damage but are notoriously difficult to exterminate. If you’re concerned about the presence of any wood-destroying organisms on a property you’re looking to buy, you should schedule a WDO inspection.

Can You Use The Home Inspection Report To Negotiate With The Seller?

If you receive a report containing any of the issues listed above, you’re free to negotiate either the price or the repairs with the seller. We recommend you contact local contractors to confirm the repair costs of all the items in the report. 

You can then use these prices to negotiate with the seller to adjust the price to accommodate the cost of repairs. Alternatively, the seller may offer to make repairs before closing. 

Keep in mind that even if the idea of the seller taking care of repairs seems like a more reasonable solution, it can open up a can of worms. For instance, the seller may fail to make repairs, which can waste everyone’s time. They may also conduct shoddy or incomplete repairs, which you may not notice until it’s too late. 

Ultimately, the choice is up to you, but always try to adjust the price of the property. This is a better option altogether, as you’ll be able to complete the repairs on your terms and at your own leisure. 

Avoid A Money Pit 

Numerous homes look perfect on the surface, but once you dig deeper, you learn not to trust appearance. To avoid a money pit, read the report carefully and make an effort to understand each of the terms contained within. After all, you paid for an inspection, so you should try to get the most out of it. 

Taking some extra time with the report will most likely pay off in the long run, and will help you bypass any costly surprises later down the road. 

If you still haven’t scheduled an inspection, now is the right time. To get the most detailed reports in Central and South Florida, reach out to Guardian Angel Inspections. We’re not only comprehensive in our approach to every home but we treat our clients like members of the family. Your success is our success, and we’re happy to see our fellow Sunshine State citizens use our services to reach the best real estate deal they possibly can. 

Fill out our contact form or call 561-512-7854 to learn more