Columbia SC Home Inspection: Questions To Ask
You’ve heard it a million times, if you’re buying a home, you must get a home inspection. This is not new news for anyone. What we want to cover in this article are the questions you should and should not ask when getting your Columbia SC home inspection done.
It is highly recommended that a client attend the home inspection in order to see the issues the inspector sees as the inspector finds them. This also gives the client the opportunity to ask the home inspector questions along the way about any items they do not fully understand.
Questions NOT to Ask When Getting Your Columbia SC Home Inspection
Don’t bother asking your home inspector if you should buy the home, if they would buy the home if they were you, or if they think the price is right. A home inspector is going to be neutral on things like this and should not be offering personal opinions about the value of the property. Their job is to offer their assessment of the home and present you with facts. The decision to buy is up to you.
Home inspectors are not appraisers, so don’t ask them for their opinion or judgment on the home’s value.
Some inspectors will include repair estimates on everything, while others may only be able to give estimates on certain items. Some may refer repairmen or suggest do-it-yourself methods, but others may not be able to give any help in this area. Home inspectors can answer most questions about the function of home components, but the above questions are simply outside of the field of expertise of most home inspectors.
Questions You SHOULD Ask When Getting Your Columbia SC Home Inspection
These are questions you should have written down to ask ahead of time. At the time of inspection, there is a lot going on, and if you don’t have these questions already written down, you may forget to ask them.
- Where is the main water shut off valve to the house?
- What is the typical life span of the roof on this home? Is there any special maintenance that needs to be done to it?
- If there is access to the attic, what does the attic look like? Is that space good for storing boxes, or would keepsakes be damaged up there?
- Is the electrical panel full, or is there room to expand?
- How is the drainage around the house?
- Which items are real safety concerns? Which items need to be addressed right away, and which can be taken care of down the road?
- Is there anything specific I need to know about up-keep on this particular home?
Buying a home is a big decision and can seem a bit overwhelming at times. This is why it is so important for potential buyers to take the time to ask the home inspector questions during their Columbia SC home inspection. They should take the opportunity to tap into their home inspector’s wealth of knowledge on the subject. Clients shouldn’t feel as if they are bothering the inspector. The majority of home inspectors are happy to provide information and share what they know, especially with first time home buyers.
If you have questions about getting a Columbia SC home inspection that we haven’t covered in this article, please comment and leave us your questions. We’ll get back to you with answers.