Myths and Misconceptions about the Home Inspection

Many people often do not have a complete understanding of what is meant by a typical home inspection until they find themselves having to have one done. Many people mistakenly confuse a home inspection with repair work or a home guaranty of some kind.

Why all the confusion swirling around the home inspection process? One of the reasons that there is probably so much confusion surrounding the home inspection process is because of the recent real estate trend towards providing a home inspection as part of bigger package that includes many unrelated services.

Myth #1: Home inspection is the same as an appraisal.

One common misconception is that a home inspection is the same thing as an appraisal. In an appraisal, a home is being examined in order to determine a monetary value in the real estate market. However, a home inspection is more about determining the condition of a home. In some cases, there may not be a complete correlation between a home's value and a home inspection.

Myth #2: Home Inspection and a Building Code Inspection

Another very common misconception is that a home inspection is the same thing as a building inspection. This is not the case. There are definitely some common denominators at play: basically, both kinds of inspections tend to concern themselves with the structure of a building.

However, there is one major, glaring difference: a home inspection is primarily a visual examination of a house, while a building code inspection concerns itself with examining all kinds of buildings, including offices and commercial buildings, not just houses. Another major difference is that building code inspections tend to be mandatory in most states and often conducted by an agent of government. And unlike a home inspection, a government does not necessarily require a home inspection.

Myth #3: Is does a home inspection correlate to a home guarantee?

Another common misconception is that a home inspection is related to a home guarantee. This is not necessarily the case. A home inspection is not necessarily any kind of guarantee when buying a new home. However, it is true that when you get a home inspection, you are trying to ensure some kind of guarantee that the house is in good condition.

However, many home inspections tend to have the opposite effect, in that they can dampen a prospective buyer's enthusiasm. Once the home inspector has pointed out all the potential problems and defects in a new home, it can certainly dampen the enthusiasm. Home sales have been known to be cancelled after particularly gruesome home examinations.

Of course, a good home inspector will point out the good and the bad. The aim is to get a balanced and complete picture of the state of the home. Try to find a home inspector who is also an independent examiner. A home inspector will be able to tell you the facts about a home without trying to sell repairs or renovations. The best way to approach a home inspection is with an open mind. Do not expect immediate confirmation about your home buying instincts. Rather, approach a home inspection with the idea of getting all the facts before making a major decision.

Myth #4: Home Inspection and Home Insurance

Many people seem to think that there is a direct connection between a home inspection and home insurance. However, unless there is an explicit connection, do not assume that your home inspection is any more than that, a home inspection. A home inspection will not provide you with any kind of home owner's insurance.

However, if you so choose, you can probably arrange to have your home inspection packaged with some kind of policy coverage. This is a recent trend in real estate. However, if there is no explicit home insurance attached to the home inspection, you should not assume that an inspection provides you with any kind of guarantee.