Home Inspection
Our Dothan, Alabama home inspectors are committed to helping you make an informed decision about buying or selling your home. As a result, we make the information we collect during an inspection easy to understand – in person and in our report.
Check out one of our sample home inspection reports.
What is a home inspection?
A home inspection is a visual assessment of a house’s physical structure and mechanical systems. The structures and systems we assess include the roof, ceilings, walls, floors, windows, and doors.
We also check major appliances to ensure they are functional and assess your heating and cooling, plumbing, and electrical systems. And if the house has an attic or crawlspace, we get into those and report anything we find that may be unsafe or not functioning as designed.
The goal of a home inspection is to help you understand the true condition of the home you are buying. A home inspection also offers an opportunity for homebuyers to back out of a purchase if they find that the property is not in the condition they expected it to be in.
Additionally, home inspections allow sellers to address a home’s defects and negotiate the price of the home accordingly.
What happens during a home inspection?
Our home inspectors take 2-3 hours to complete an inspection. During that time we complete a thorough walk-through (and in some cases, a crawl-through 😆), of the home you’re looking to purchase.
We take copious notes and detailed photographs and put them in our written report. We take what we see and provide you with an objective opinion of the home’s condition during our walk-through with you and in our report.
Keep in mind that our assessment is based on the InterNACHI Home Inspection Standards of
Practice and not upon local building codes. We also won’t comment on aesthetics unless it is related to a problem such as overgrown vegetation.
And while our inspectors are literally looking out for your best interests, we won’t be able to see inside walls and underground. This means hidden asbestos, mold, or pests may go unnoticed.
Also, areas like septic tanks and wells that aren’t readily accessible, won’t be covered in our inspection either. These areas and mechanisms can require specialized evaluations.
Why do I need an inspection and how long will it take?
You might need a home inspection to help you understand the true condition of the home you are considering buying.
In Dothan, it will take our inspector approximately 2 or 3 hours to complete the visual inspection of the house’s physical structure and mechanical systems.
What is a Home Inspection Contingency?
This is an addendum to an offer contract that specifies that the purchase depends on the results of a home inspection. In other words, the contingency allows a buyer to back out of a deal if they’re unsatisfied with the home’s condition.
In competitive markets, buyers tend to waive this contingency so they can make their offer more attractive to the seller. That said, these buyers understand that they are on the hook for any repairs the home may require.
What Does a Typical Home Inspection Contingency Include?
Every contract is structured a bit differently, but it will usually state something along the lines of “the buyer must find the condition of the home satisfactory.” If the home is not in the expected condition, the buyer may renegotiate the deal or call it off.
Sellers should go through the offer beforehand and ask any questions they may have to their realtors.
Who Pays for a Home Inspection?
A home inspection is typically done when a buyer is interested in purchasing a home. Since the buyer benefits from the report, the buyer pays for it.
Sellers who want to avoid unexpected hiccups during the sale process pay for a pre-listing home inspection. This allows the seller to confidently price their home and market it more effectively. It’s important to note that sellers are required to reveal issues found in the inspection to the buyer.
What Does a Home Inspection Cost in Alabama?
In Alabama a home inspection costs between $300 and $500 according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. However, that price depends on the size of the home being inspected and if any special inspections apply such as outbuildings or swimming pools. Additionally, if a seller or prospective buyer wants to add Radon or Mold testing, or have the sewer line scoped, the home inspection cost can be more.
This is consistent with our pricing for home inspections here in Southeast Alabama.
What is the Timeframe Within Which a Buyer Can Have a Home Inspection Performed?
Buyers must conduct the inspection within five to ten business days of the seller accepting the deal.
How Long Does a Buyer Have to Request Repairs from a Home Inspection?
The buyer can ask the seller to make reasonable repairs and fix issues right after the inspection. Oftentimes it is easier to simply price the items in need of repair, deduct them from the sales price of the home, and repair them once the purchase is complete.
Should Sellers Attend a Home Inspection?
If you’re selling your home without an agent, it makes sense to attend the inspection. Most agents suggest not attending the inspection to their clients.
It’s best not to attend the meeting so the buyer, agent, and inspector can discuss their opinions comfortably.
