Warning -- please read before hiring a home inspector.
Before choosing a home inspection company, make sure you understand exactly what they do--and don't--inspect. I bought an older home "as-is" and expected a thorough, safety-focused inspection. What I received was a bare-minimum, checklist-style review that failed to identify major issues.
Within 10 days of moving in, I faced serious electrical failures, plumbing problems, and even sewage back-up flooding that damaged new carpeting. None of these issues were mentioned in the inspection report.
Electrical:
* Inspectors don't test outlets with items plugged in, which I didn't know. My dishwasher outlet later failed and triggered major electrical problems.
* The electrical panel only got a visual check, yet soon after move-in, it began sizzling and partially failed.
* My home has zero GFCI outlets--an obvious safety concern--yet the report claimed they had been "reset".
Plumbing:
* Plumbing was mostly inspected visually. My main line had tree roots at the clean out drain cover, which caused a stoppage in the primary bathroom shortly after moving in. This caused flooding the bathroom and damaging new carpeting. Had the cover been removed vs only the location being noted, I would have known about the issue.
What I learned:
A standard inspection is extremely limited, especially for older homes. I should have unplugged the dishwasher and garbage disposal so all outlets could be tested and requested specialist inspections. At the time of inspection, the home was vacant and fully accessible.
Although the company's owner contributed to some plumbing repair costs (which I appreciate), I still feel the inspection was far below what is advertised on their website.
If I could redo the process, I would hire licensed electricians, plumbers, and HVAC contractors for full safety evaluations. The extra cost would be worth the peace of mind. read more
