While home inspections happen regularly for different transactions, many homeowners, sellers, and buyers are not quite sure what goes on in a home inspection. Furthermore, many are clueless about how long house inspections take and why they are necessary, even if it seems that they are not required. Read on to discover what exactly goes on in a home inspection.

The Duration of a Home Inspection

Home inspections often last for two to three hours. As a rough estimate, it takes around one hour and fifteen minutes to evaluate a 1000-square-foot dwelling. Or, every 500 square feet of the area adds a half-hour to the inspection duration. However, this timing may alter as a result of the aforementioned circumstances.

Depending on the age, size, and accessibility of the home, inspections may take longer to complete. A professional inspector will also familiarize themselves with the area, know what to look for in homes based on their age. Doing so helps them identify access systems that may be more difficult to reach.

The Process of a Home Inspection

An inspector will inspect the house’s key systems for health, safety, and livability. This comprises the foundation, plumbing, heating, cooling, and electrical systems, among others. Throughout the inspection, cosmetic issues such as peeling wallpaper or chipped fixtures could also be noted. However, only significant systems influencing safety and livability will be prioritized during an examination.

The Variables Affecting Home Inspections

Home inspections services may be conditional and circumstantial. Hence, not every property owner will request such an examination. On the other hand, home buyers will usually ask for this requirement. When estimating the length of the inspection, consider the following criteria:

• The first point to evaluate is the structure itself, including its age and size. Larger homes have more factors to consider. Alternatively, older homes may have outdated plumbing, roofing, and electrical systems, as well as prior damage from gradual wear and tear.
• The time it takes to conduct a home inspection and the architecture of the house are both affected by accessibility. If the structure has a yard, cellar, or other difficult-to-inspect components, the inspector may take longer when conducting their assessment.
• The length of a house inspection may be affected by state legislation. While there is no federal statute that demands inspections, several states do. What is included in an inspection report varies by state, especially for older houses with outdated HVAC, plumbing, and roofing systems, which affects the inspection’s duration.

The duration it takes to complete an inspection report does not vary greatly based on the dwelling. Additionally, someone who is fresh to the role may need extra time. But in general, the bulk of inspection companies do their work within 1-2 days.

Conclusion

The full scope to inspect a property varies depending on its condition, age, the inspector’s experience, and the accessibility of the home’s systems. Certain older homes, especially those with concrete walls or inconveniently positioned HVAC systems, may demand more time to inspect than others.

Regardless of how inconvenient these property assessments are, they are an essential tool for any buyer or seller. Following a house inspection, pricing and terms for real estate transactions may change. As a precautionary measure, this may be advantageous to both parties in terms of time and money. This is why it’s vital to receive professional services to determine a property’s different components.

Are you looking for home inspection services in Birmingham? Ally Property Inspections is a team of well-trained professionals whom you can trust to look after your home. Beyond this service, we aim to educate buyers on smart home-buying by offering courses with discounts on our home inspection services! Reach out to us today to learn more.