A Free Home Inspection? Why Inspections are Worth the Money

If you’re buying or selling a home, you want to snag a good deal. It’s natural to wonder, “Can I get a free home inspection?”

In order to understand what you can and can’t receive for free, it’s important to know what role your home inspection plays in a home transaction. During a home inspection, a professional will scope out the home and assess its condition, structure, and safety.

Inspections can be useful for both the buyer and the seller. For the buyer, it’s a way of protecting yourself against less-obvious structural problems, such as foundation issues, which could wreck your investment or endanger your safety later on. They also make it easier for buyers to negotiate a fair price when there are underlying issues plaguing a home.

Inspections also protect the seller. Since a neutral professional assesses the home’s structural soundness, inspections stop buyers from making last-minute demands based on unfounded claims. The process also helps to protect sellers from potential liability because it gives them a chance to disclose issues up-front.

Wondering what parts of the inspection process you can get for free and what inspections will cost you? Here are your home inspection options, the pros and cons of each route, and what price you can expect to pay for professional home inspection services.

What does a home inspection involve, and what does it cost?

Most often, the buyers of your house will schedule a professional home inspection before closing to make sure they aren’t inheriting any surprises with their purchase. A home inspector then visually evaluates every square inch of a home, recording details about its main systems and components, such as the condition of its plumbing, roofing, electrical system, HVAC, and exterior grounds. The inspector also notes any health or safety concerns. You can check out our complete guide here.

This can take an average of two to four hours because home inspectors examine nooks and crannies that many homeowners forget about or infrequently use. In a few days, the home inspector will compile their findings into a home inspection report that notes any issues they’ve identified.

The average cost of a home inspection nationwide is $343, but this varies by home size, your local real estate market, and the home inspector’s experience. Some inspectors charge a base fee for homes up to 2,000 square feet and an additional fee for additional footage.

Depending on where you live, your home might require additional inspections or a specialist if the home inspector thinks a defect reaches beyond their expertise.