Home Inspection Costs & 3 Major Tests to Request
Overview
- Are home inspection costs worth it?
- Can I inspect my home myself?
- Types of home inspections
- Should I get my new construction inspected?
Disclaimer: All pricing provided in this article is based on national averages and is not legally binding financial advice.
Are home inspection costs worth it?
In short—YES. Every year, millions of buyers embark on the exciting, lengthy, and sometimes overwhelming journey to buying a home. Many new homeowners have watched the home of their dreams turn into a nightmare due to a lack of knowledge of all the associated costs with their home. This doesn’t have to be you!
In 2022, we’ve seen an influx of buyer’s remorse, and it’s not always because of money. These are typically due to:
- Buying over or too close to the top of the budget
- Choosing to sacrifice too much for watered-down instant gratification
- Overlooking important steps to rush to the closing table
Home inspection costs are minimal compared to the cost of emotional and financial turmoil families face every year due to the lack thereof.
Can I inspect my home myself?
Basic professional home inspections typically take 2 to 4 hours and as the buyer, you’re encouraged to attend in order to ask questions and witness any notes the inspector may leave you. You’ll want to understand the severity of certain spots cracks, or weird machines you’ve never seen in your life.
For example, a single mother used her inheritance to buy a home that seemed perfect! It was built in the 1960s but was well maintained. Outside of a few cracks here and there, nothing was wrong with the house. Trying to save a little bit of money, she decided to forego home inspection costs. She did her own research on what to look for, performed a self-inspection, and decided to buy the home. However, a professional inspection would have made her aware that the oil tank that produced her house’s heating was phased out in the 1980s for a reason. She also would have learned that the tank was 20 years old, drifting into its last days, and beginning to leak.
A good inspector would have informed her of the costs associated with an underground oil tank, which can easily surpass $100,000. Once her tank began to leak, it ran the risk of destroying the local soil, irrigation systems, and more to her own and surrounding properties. On top of repair costs, her neighbors could have sued her for the damages her tank was causing to their property. The bottom line? She went from saving a few hundred dollars to a potential 7-figure catastrophe.
Types of home inspections
Basic Home Inspection
A basic home inspection costs about $450 to $600 depending on where you live and the square footage of the home. It is exactly what it sounds like. If your state or lender mandates inspections, this is most likely the kind that they require. Professional inspectors will walk around the house and look for problem areas that meet the eye. Don’t underestimate the power of the inspection. It’s a great place to start. From here, they can determine if you need any specialists to come look at the house.
Normally, basic packages include:
- Heating system
- Central air conditioning
- Interior plumbing and electrical systems
- Attic
- Walls
- Ceilings
- Floors
- Roof
- Gutters
- Windows
- Doors
- Foundation
- Basement
Radon Home Inspection
Radon is a colorless, odorless gas that is nearly undetectable. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), this gas is serious business. It’s the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers, taking the lives of 21,000 people on average every year. 1 in 15 homes has dangerously high levels of radon.
The cost of this inspection ranges from $90 to $450 depending on whether you bundle it into a bigger package or buy it separately.
Mold Home Inspection
If you see an inkling of mold, there is a good chance it’s running rampant throughout the entire house. Mold should always be a deal-breaker! A mold home inspection costs between $300 to $900 based on the square footage of the home. That is a small price to pay considering that mold can induce allergy or flu-like symptoms. Long-term exposure can lead to cancer and other life-threatening diseases. This one should be a staple no matter the age of the house.
Pest Home Inspection
The last thing you want in your new home are uninvited guests who eat all of the food the house has to offer. For the 6-legged creatures like carpenter ants, termites, and wood-boring beetles, their food is your physical house! Many states, counties, insurance companies, and lenders require this inspection before any finalizations are made. Roaches, rats, and mice also pose as a threat to your insurance coverage and your sanity. The cost of ensuring you and your family are the only residents in your home should fall between $75 to $125 on average.
Should I get my new construction home inspected?
Even at Centex, we believe home inspection costs are worth it. Everything home we build is held to the highest standard and comes with a solid 10 Year Limited Warranty that covers:
- The structural integrity of the home for 10 years
- Various types of water infiltration and internal leaks for 5 years
- Workability of plumbing, electrical, HVAC, and other mechanical systems for 2 years
- Materials and workmanship for 1 year
After building your home, we will stay connected with you via email throughout the first year of ownership with maintenance and seasonal reminders.
At the end of the day, you are still the owner and can never be too careful. Inspections can be arranged at any point throughout the building process and add to the integrity of the home in the eyes of your insurer and lender.
For more learning opportunities and resources on home inspections like what is a home inspection and what you should expect from a home inspection, be sure to check out more on our Centex blog with Homebuying 101s.
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Published 05.12.22