If you’re buying a home right now, you’re entering a real estate market unlike any we’ve seen in recent memory. Coming off a seller’s market, where home sellers had the ability to command almost any price they wanted on their home, we’re now in the middle of a steep demand drop due to high mortgage rates. With fewer people buying homes right now, but just as many people trying to sell as before, most sellers are being forced to make concessions on price.

Short answer: yes, you definitely need to have your home inspected before doing a renovation. Long answer: you should also have your home inspected while the renovation is in progress and after it is completed. Failing to have your home properly inspected could result in a variety of costly consequences. You might go over budget due to improperly scoping the project from the onset. Your local government can even force you to tear down the renovation if it violates zoning and/or building regulations. These situations can be avoided with a proper home inspection before, during and after major renovations.

Last month, Inspectify and Revive presented the webinar "Agent Superhero: How to Protect Your Clients," hosted by our CEO and co-founder Josh Jensen and Revive Head of Operations Jessica Morrow.

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.