Home inspections are a long-standing tradition in the world of real estate. They give helpful insight to buyers into homes that would otherwise go unnoticed to those who don’t know their way around the new property. But if you are wondering how long a home inspection take, there is no simple answer.
Home Inspectors offer details on everything from furnishing to plumbing, from roof inspection to termite inspection, closing deals all the way to examining every inch of your new property. Usually, a home inspection takes a few hours to review your property, but it depends on several factors.
What is a home inspection?
A home inspection is a detailed analysis of the condition of your home. You may be a buyer or a seller, but an assessment can go a long way in helping to decide the price of the property or knowing whether or not the property is worth the investment. As a buyer, you don’t wish to invest in a home with hidden issues that you will have to deal with in the future. As a seller, you want to know the actual worth of your property, so you get a fair price for it.
A home inspection is not mandated by law, and you should do it at your discretion. What you need to know about house inspection is that it is a non-invasive process and does not involve any breakage or damage, at least not without your consent (for termite or asbestos inspection).
Who initiates home inspection?
Usually, it’s the buyer who gets the home inspection done to secure the investment. They can hire inspectors directly by contacting an agency or via their real estate agents. However, if you are a seller, you too can initiate the assessment of your property. There is no harm in finding out the property’s condition before listing it for sale.
How long does a house inspection take: Factors
The focus of this blog is to find out how long it takes for a home inspection. A home inspection can take up to two to three hours to complete. However, let’s find what factors influence the time taken for the examination.
- Square footage of the house
This is a no-brainer. The bigger the house, the more time (and money) it would take to inspect the home. Bigger houses will have more elements to examine. Inspectors check out all parts of the house. So if your house has added rooms or bathrooms to look into, it would add to the time. - Age of the property
Inspections are typically more time-consuming for old properties. Older homes often have worn-out piping and wiring, which must be thoroughly checked to provide an honest inspection report for you in order to give buyers peace of mind considering their purchase. Not so much for brand new properties. - Extra Elements
To know how long does a home inspection take, you will have to see the extra elements in the property. Every added space or component will increase the time of inspection. Whether you are the buyer or the seller, knowing the condition of the property to the fullest will only benefit you in the long run. Here are a few things that can add to the duration of the examination.
- Shops or outhouses
- Barn
- Swimming pool
- Septic Systems
- Private wells
- Oil tanks
Experience and knowledge of the home inspector. An experienced home inspector may be able to tell you a defect just with one glance, while an amateur might take more time to examine before giving a judgment. So, if you are looking for a reliable inspection in lesser time, you should look for home inspectors with at least a few years of experience.
