What You Need to Know About Home Inspectors in Loganville, GA
How much does a home inspector charge in Georgia?
In Georgia, the cost for a general home inspection service ranges from $300 to $500. For a 1,500-square-foot single-family home, the average cost is around $392. These prices can fluctuate depending on the specific services, the property's characteristics such as size, age, basement (finished/unfinished), crawlspace or slab, the inspector's experience, and the quality of the report. Home inspectors in Loganville, GA, who are new to the profession or inspectors with brief reports will generally charge less.
What are the more expensive issues a home inspector could observe during a home inspection?
The most expensive issue (deal breaker) in a home inspection is foundation problems. A faulty foundation can lead to significant structural issues and costly repairs, making it a major concern for buyers. Other serious problems include damage to roof shingles and roof structure, problems arising from water intrusion, certain siding materials, some materials used in older plumbing systems, and electrical issues (almost always a safety concern).
When should you hire home inspectors?
Hiring home inspectors before putting your home up for sale, so that the inspector can identify problems that can be repaired, is beneficial. This can expedite the sale of your home. For home buyers, hiring a professional inspector usually takes place when the contract is signed and the due diligence period begins. Still, it is wise to interview inspectors after the offer is made to ask for reports to review, which helps ensure you've chosen an inspector who will meet your needs.
What is the first thing an inspector would like to see, if possible?
Sharing a Seller's Disclosure and, in some cases, a plot plan of the lot boundaries can be helpful. Also, obtaining copies of any permits issued for modifications to the property is very important to prevent any future liabilities to the home buyer.
Are home inspections worth the extra cost?
Having a very detailed, comprehensive report before the due diligence period expires can provide leverage in negotiating repairs/replacements for a reduction in the price of the home or cash back at closing to cover some or all of those related expenses. There are many times when the seller's repair/replacement cost of just one deficiency more than pays for the inspector's fee.
How long should a good home inspection take?
That depends on how many inspectors arrive for the home inspection service. Some companies send out an inspector with a trainee to reduce the time spent inspecting the property, which usually takes 1.5 hours. A single inspector's time on the property varies with experience and how much time they spend addressing concerns or answering questions from the buyer. Inspection time in that case is between 2.5 and 3 hours, and maybe even longer for large homes.
How do inspection reports differ?
Many home inspectors generally use a report template that can be customized for their particular reporting style. Most "standard" templates are designed to get the inspector in and out of there in the shortest time by using preselected narratives. This allows them to accomplish more than one inspection that day. The unrevised/standard template typically includes placing a check mark in a box and inserting one or two pictures with no further details than the generalized remarks in the accompanying narrative.
Some inspectors use customized reports that include further explanations and details of deficiencies, as well as additional pictures, advice, and recommendations that are usually very helpful to both sellers and buyers.
What should you ask before hiring a particular home inspector?
Some questions to consider are the following:
- Are you Gold Certified with the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI), and for how long?
- What is the level of your experience?
- Can you personally repair any of the problems that you inspect? (If they answer yes, move on to the next interview.)
- Are you a multi-inspector company? Will you be sending your most experienced inspector? Will they return my calls when I have questions regarding their report?
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