Do I Have to Do An Inspection When I Buy a House?

You buy a house and in the document (offer) in which you offer your price, you must specify whether or not you will do an inspection. When buying a condo, an inspection is only done inside the condo, usually takes no more than 1 hour and costs $350-$450. When buying a house, the inspection can take up to 5 hours and costs $500-600. When buying a 2-plex, 3-plex or other multi-unit home, the inspection takes at least 3 hours and costs $600 or more.

Home Inspection After the inspection, you will receive a report from the inspector detailing the home: the condition of the plumbing, the structure of the home, the condition of the roof and windows, etc. Your safety problems will be marked in red: uninstalled handrails on stairs, improperly located electrical outlets, etc. The inspector will point out what work needs to be done right after you buy your home and what can wait.

The inspector will indicate in the report if it is necessary to request additional tests for water, air or insulation materials that do not meet standards in older homes.

Some buyers want to save money on a professional inspector before buying a home and either do the home inspection themselves or with a friend or family member. What are the drawbacks?

First, by refusing the inspector, you must write a written waiver of the inspection and this waiver will remain on file with the notary.
Second, with the inspector’s report, you have the opportunity to lower the price for the upcoming repairs of those defects that have been discovered by a professional inspector.

Third, without an official inspector’s report in the future if hidden defects are discovered you will have a hard time proving that the defects already existed when you bought the house and did not appear later. A home inspection is not required at the time of purchase, but it can help a buyer demonstrate at trial that they acted prudently and with care during the purchase of the home.
Before an inspection, sellers are advised to clear access to electrical panels, windows, and plumbing fixtures in advance to avoid or minimize manipulation of furniture or belongings if possible. During the inspection, general rules must be followed: wearing a mask, keeping a distance, etc.

To avoid missing out on a favorite home, some buyers give up their right to an inspection in hopes that the seller will give them preference over other buyers. Remember, the inspection is a very important part of buying a home, sometimes during the inspection such problems are discovered that it is better to give up buying such a home and buy another.