Planning to construct a new home is a big deal, but how do you know construction is going well? Do you know what to look for when examining a new home’s construction? Unless you’re a trained builder or home inspector, a lot of issues could escape your notice. Luckily, new construction phases inspections ensure your home is being built well.

Online reviews can be helpful, but anyone looking for a home inspector should bear in mind that online reviews may not tell the full story. Like many trade professionals, you can find reviews of home inspectors on Google, Angi, Trustpilot and Yelp. And just like in those professions, more people leave a review after a negative experience than after a positive one, leading to a plethora of one-star reviews that don’t five the full picture. Former customers may write glowingly about their positive experience with the inspector, or they might leave paragraphs about unprofessional behavior, lack of skills and other complaints. 

Does my property need a specialized home inspection?

A common misconception buyers sometimes have about general home inspectors is that they can diagnose and suggest repairs for any and every problem in a home. A general home inspection can uncover common deficiencies like drainage problems, roofing issues or poor ventilation. During the inspection, general home inspectors can point to signs of issues like mold, pests or structural instability, but they cannot officially diagnose those conditions. Similarly, they cannot inspect certain features on the property such as pools, septic tanks or wells because those features are not part of the standard general inspection report. For properties with any of the above listed deficiencies or features, an additional, specialized inspection is often recommended.

If you think your home project is costing more than you had expected, don’t be surprised! With a labor shortage in the construction industry and major increases in the price of materials, your home project will cost a lot more than it would have last year. 

What is a sewer scope and why should home buyers get one?

Purchasing a new home is one of the biggest milestones in life; however, before you dot all the i’s and cross the t’s, you need to ensure everything is in good working order – especially your sewer system. One of the best ways to do this is by getting a sewer scope inspection, which will find any deficiencies. 

Last month, we teamed up with our friends at Kiavi to host a webinar on how the inspection process affects real estate investors. Josh Jensen, Inspectify co-founder and CEO, explains how data from third-party inspections can be utilized to secure your investments, scale your holdings and increase your ROI – especially outside your core market. Skylar Raso, Feasibility Analyst for Kiavi, then describes how inspection reports directly affect the mortgages Kiavi issues to real estate investors.

The US economy is in a turbulent state, with inflation hitting 8.5% in March 2022 – the highest increase in 40 years. This increase is driven by supply chain problems and monetary policies. With high inflation, mortgage rates have also started rising, indicating that the economy may be overheating. On top of that, energy prices have surged by more than 34%, causing almost everyone to tighten their belts on utilities usage. But what does this mean for home buyers and sellers?

The most common home plumbing issues may not seem like big problems, but even the slowest drip, if left uncorrected, could lead to massive damage and higher water bills over time. Thankfully, when these issues are still small nuisances, most can be solved by anyone with some repair experience– no plumber required! But, when the leaks or clogs are hidden out of view or behind walls, it can be a good idea to book a professional inspector. Their expert eyes are trained to uncover carefully hidden problems. Whether you’re trying to buy a home with some common plumbing issues or are getting ready to sell your property, getting your plumbing inspected before the transaction is finalized can save a lot of headaches later on.