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.

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. 

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?

Buying and owning a home is one of the biggest investments you’ll make in your lifetime. With the median home price hitting $428,700 in Q1 2022, it's more important than ever to have your prospective home inspected before you commit to such an expensive purchase. An inspection can ensure the home is in good condition and devoid of defects or threats.