Blog Buyer The Ins and Outs of a Home Inspection

The Ins and Outs of a Home Inspection

By Lily Ray Wyss, May 19, 2024

The home inspection is one of, if not, the most important part of your home purchase.

It is where you will learn the most about the home you are buying, where you will have the most negotiating power, and honestly it is usually the most stressful part of the transaction.

But the more eduction you have up front and the more expectation setting we do the easier it will be and the calmer you will be.

Here are some things to know about the home inspection process:

🛠 The cost:

The general home inspection: $500-700*
Radon test: $120*
Sewer scope: $100 – $150*
Oil tank sweep: $100 – $120*

*Cost can vary by location and provider but this is the average I see.

*Which inspections you perform will depend on the type of home, location and other factors but these are the main inspections I recommend.

🛠 A home inspection is an overview of the homes condition:

A home inspector will be able to give you a great idea of the overall condition of the home, and will be able to pin point key problems, (but keep in mind there are some limitations as inspectors are human after all and don’t have X Ray vision).

🛠 Its a negotiation tool and a future to-do list:

After you receive your inspection report you can use it as a tool to negotiate with the seller and it will also be helpful in determining the future work you will need to do and want to do to the home.

As, and this is an important point, the seller will not correct every single item that comes up on your inspection report (unless you buy a new build home). Because on average there will be 40-70 items on that report, with a varying level of urgency and concern.
When you negotiate repairs with a seller you will want to focus on the top 1-4 health and safety concerns.

The rest of the items will typically be repairs you can do yourself (yay weekend hardware store trips) or ones you will hire out to contractors (which I will give you recommendations for).

Inspections can be an overwhelming part of the process, but that is why I am here as your buyers agent to help you through it all. If you want to meet and talk more about the home buying process reach out via my contact information below.

Lily Ray Wyss

Broker | OR

She/Her

I love Portland. This city, and its surrounding areas, in my opinion, are the perfect place to call home. We have the amazing ability to put our toes in the ocean, snowboard, and visit some of the world's best breweries all in one day. Our food scene is extremely diverse and prolific. Want to see a show? Comedy, music, theater, etc all have growing, well-supported scenes here. I love selling homes in Portland and more importantly educating my clients and community on how amazing this city is and how you can own a piece of this beautiful state and call it home. Follow me on Instagram to see my new finds and spotlights on the best places to eat, play, and be entertained in the area. And for information on buying/selling and current home market data. Follow at: @lilyrayresidential
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  • T: 971-361-6114
  • lily@lilyrayres.com

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