Do I Need a Home Inspection, and How Long Does One Take, Anyway?

You’ve found a house and had your offer accepted. Now it’s time to start moving through the process of finalizing the sale, which includes getting an inspection of the property.

While they aren’t necessarily required by your mortgage lender, a home inspection is an important part of your home purchase. As a buyer, you want to make sure you have a complete understanding of any outstanding maintenance issues with the property, existing damage, or other potential problems. And your agent will most likely recommend getting an inspection, even if you’ve already negotiated with the seller to waive repairs — just so you know exactly what you’re buying.

But how long will this inspection take? And what do inspectors actually look at during the inspection? Should you attend? When will you be able to review the report?

We’ve talked to experienced real estate agents and professional home inspectors to get answers to these questions and investigated the ins and outs of home inspections in general.

Let’s take a look at just how long a home inspection takes, what it involves, and what it really means for you as a buyer.

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What is a home inspection?

A home inspection is a comprehensive assessment of the property’s condition, intended to determine whether or not it is in need of specific repairs. This includes not only maintenance, but also health and safety related issues that could affect the home’s value and the mortgage lender’s ability to grant a loan.

California real estate agent Bahareh Kamoei, who has more than 16 years of experience in the industry, says she always advises her buyers to get an inspection.

“In my years of practicing real estate, there have only been a handful of times I’ve had buyers decide against the inspection, and if they do, they must sign a waiver,” she says.

Not getting an inspection could mean discovering issues with the house after closing, which would leave you with no recourse if you wanted to try to negotiate repairs (or even back out of the deal completely!).

Who does the home inspection?

The home inspection is conducted by a certified, professional inspector.

As the buyer, you can choose your own inspector, and your agent will often provide you with some options for reputable inspectors. If you do choose your own, you’ll want to vet them, which can be done by looking at online reviews, checking with your local Better Business Bureau, or looking them up via the American Society of Home Inspectors.