Buying a home is one of the largest financial decisions you'll ever make. While a home inspection isn’t required during the home-buying process, it can be a valuable tool for protecting your investment, helping you understand a property’s condition and avoid unexpected expenses down the road.
In this episode of Making Sense of Money, we sat down with Paul Duffau of Calibre Residential Services to discuss the importance of home inspections for both first-time homebuyers and experienced homeowners.
A home inspection is a professional evaluation of a property’s major systems and components. During an inspection, an inspector usually examines structural elements, plumbing, electrical systems, heating and cooling systems, roofing, and other key features of the home.
The goal isn’t to determine whether the home is perfect, as no home is. The purpose is to help buyers better understand the condition before completing a purchase.
“Anytime you purchase a piece of property, it’s helpful to get a good idea of what’s happening with it,” Paul explained.
The process generally includes scheduling the inspection during the contingency period, conducting a thorough evaluation of the home’s major systems, documenting the findings with photos and notes, and reviewing the results with the buyer.
Even when a home may appear move-in-ready, hidden issues can exist behind the walls, in crawl spaces, or within major systems. This is when a home inspection can make all the difference, uncovering safety concerns, revealing costly repairs, and providing peace of mind before closing.
As Paul phrases it, “It’s a little bit of personal safety, a little bit of financial safety, all in one package.”
In some cases, inspections can uncover serious hazards that otherwise may go unnoticed. One memorable moment in Paul’s career was receiving an email from a client thanking him for saving her life. During an inspection, Paul had warned his client about carbon monoxide and the importance of getting detectors inside the home. After moving in, she found herself and her pets falling asleep without understanding why. After purchasing a carbon monoxide detector, she found that the fireplace was emitting carbon monoxide into her home. Because the issue was identified early, it could be addressed before causing serious harm. “These are the sort of things that we try to get ahead of,” he shared.
Buyers may be surprised when they receive an inspection report full of findings. But it’s important to remember that most reports include minor maintenance items, recommended upgrades, and potential repair concerns. Paul explained that an inspection report is a tool for homebuyers, not necessarily a list of deal breakers.
“When people get the list back, it’s back to negotiation,” he said.
After reviewing the report, buyers may choose to request repairs, negotiate credits from the seller, seek additional evaluations from specialists, or simply move forward with a better understanding of the home’s condition.
When choosing a home inspector, Paul recommends verifying license requirements in your state, confirming insurance coverage, asking about experience, reading reviews, and requesting a sample inspection report.
He also cautions buyers to pay attention to how inspectors respond to your questions. “If they’re reluctant to show you a sample report, that should be a red flag.”
Paul’s biggest piece of advice is not to wait to schedule a home inspection. “Earlier is always better because that gives you decision-making time,” he said.
Completing inspections early in the contingency period allows buyers to gather repair estimates, consult specialists if needed, review their options carefully, and make confident decisions before closing.
A home inspection may not be required, but it can be one of the most valuable investments you make during the home-buying process. Spending a few hundred dollars upfront could help you avoid costly repairs and provide greater confidence as you move into your new home.
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If you are thinking of starting the home-buying journey, our mortgage team is here to help! Contact them today to answer your questions and get started.
