Protect Your Investment
Congratulations! You're on the brink of purchasing your dream home, a place where memories will be made and futures will unfold. But before you sign, there's a very important step you can't afford to skip: scheduling home inspection services. In this comprehensive guide, we'll walk you through everything you need to know about home inspection scheduling, from why it's important to how to prepare for your appointment.
Why is Scheduling a Home Inspection Important for a Home Buyer?
Regardless of what a home looks like on the outside, in the kitchen, or in the master bedroom, there could be issues that only a trained eye can uncover. That's where a home inspection comes in. By scheduling a home inspection, you're investing in peace of mind, ensuring that your new home is free from hidden defects and potential headaches. You are also investing in the opportunity to learn a lot about the home in a very short time.
Even when there are issues you can see that seem relatively minor, bigger problems could be hiding. For example, a gutter may look a little loose or even sagging. Maybe it’s just old, or maybe the structure it’s attached to is beginning to fail after years of water damage. Radon testing can only be done with special equipment as it’s an odorless, invisible gas that is nearly undetectable otherwise and takes a few days to complete. Water in the crawlspace can contribute to wood decay, air quality issues in the home, and pest intrusion.
How Far in Advance Should a Home Buyer Schedule a Home Inspection?
Timing is everything when it comes to scheduling a home inspection. Ideally, you'll want to schedule your inspection as soon as possible after your offer is accepted. It is important that you schedule a home inspection as soon as you know your offer on a home has been accepted because the clock is ticking.
Depending on what state your home is being purchased in, the sales contingency period can vary somewhat, and in any event, it is not much time to get everything done. The earlier in the sales contingency period, you can have a home inspection performed, the more time you have to gather additional information from contractors if necessary.
Waiting until the last few days of the sales contingency period leaves you in a difficult spot if you need bids or more information from contractors regarding issues uncovered in the home inspection. Ideally, the home inspection takes place in the first three days of the sales contingency period leaving you adequate time to gain additional information about discovered issues including the costs for repairs.
At 45th Parallel, we’ll do everything in our power to keep your home-buying train on the tracks and moving forward. Our personal goal is to be able to get to a home inspection within 2 days of when we are contacted with the request.
How Can a Home Buyer Prepare for a Home Inspection Appointment?
Preparation is key to a successful home inspection. In reality, the home buyer can schedule an appointment and loop their realtor in. From there, the realtors can ensure the property is accessible to the inspector, both inside and out. This is obviously easier if the home is empty, but can still be performed even if the sellers are still living there. Coordination of the home inspection and access to the home generally takes place between the buyer’s agent and the listing agent.
When it comes to scheduling a home inspection, there are a few key factors to keep in mind. First and foremost, consider the availability of inspectors in your area. Be prepared to be flexible with your schedule, as inspectors may book up quickly during peak seasons. It is helpful to check with several home inspectors in anticipation of your offer being accepted to gauge how far out most inspectors are scheduling.
Some inspectors will ‘reserve’ a spot for you if you think your offer will be accepted so that you have a jump on the scheduling process. Here’s a hot tip! Here at 45th Parallel, we do that for people! We can’t hold it for long because waiting too long and we will lose the opportunity to fill the spot, but we will do whatever we can to help folks. Additionally, make sure to stay in touch with the realtor–they are your point person.
And keep this in mind: if things get a little crazy, don’t get too flustered. The home seller and the home buyer both want the same thing: to get the house sold with a smooth transaction. While it may seem like a difficult process, between all the parties working together, it usually comes together quite well, even when it seems like it won’t. You’ve got a lot of parties working toward the same goal, so try to remain patient and calm.
We understand that scheduling a home inspection can feel like just another item on an already lengthy to-do list. But trust us – it's a small investment that can save you time, money, and headaches in the long run. 45th Parallel Home Inspection's streamlined scheduling process makes it easy to coordinate appointments and ensure that everyone is on the same page.
Frequently Asked Questions About Home Inspection Scheduling
While it's technically possible, most buyers wait until after their offer has been accepted to schedule a home inspection. This allows for a more streamlined process and ensures that the inspection is conducted on a property you're serious about purchasing.
In a really busy market, if most inspectors are a week out for scheduling, it can be helpful to ask your preferred inspector to reserve a spot for you several days or a week in advance if you feel your offer is strong and that it will likely be accepted. That could save you a few days. Most inspectors won’t hold the spot too long though, because they risk losing the spot and not being able to fill it if waiting too long.
The duration of a home inspection can vary depending on the size and condition of the property, but most inspections take between 2 to 4 hours to complete. You will get a home inspection report later that day or at least within 24 hours in most cases. Our promise is within 24 hours unless there are other circumstances such as a very large or complex home, inspector illness, or things like that.
Communication is key. Reach out to your real estate agent or inspection company as soon as possible to discuss potential scheduling conflicts and explore alternative solutions. Most real estate transactions have realtor agents on both sides of the transaction to help coordinate events and keep things moving along.
One hundred percent of the time, issues will be uncovered. There is no such thing as a perfect home. Every home, new or old, or meticulously maintained, has a repair list. The inspector will provide you with a detailed report outlining their findings. From there, you can work with your real estate agent to negotiate repairs or credits with the seller.
Scheduling a home inspection is a critical step in the home-buying process, ensuring that your investment is sound and your future is secure. So don't delay–schedule your inspection today with 45th Parallel Home Inspection and take the first step towards homeownership with confidence. Our service areas include Portland OR, Vancouver WA, and surrounding areas.
