I was awaken early this morning thinking about this. As a home buyer, the only sure thing you need to know about your home is the integrity of the structure and whether or not the sewer line has problems. That's it! Let me expound.
The integrity includes the foundation, the roof and the framing. Most of which can't be seen entirely - right? Can I see the footer of the home? No. Can I see what's behind the drywall? No, Can I see the roof? to some degree - yes, but not entirely. So here's my thoughts. There are a lot of ancillary service offered by a lot of home inspection companies, but truth be told, unless they actually repair or replace any deficiency they think they might have found, they are going to suggest that you hire a professional to do the work.
So back to my original thought. A thorough inspection will uncover potential problems with roofing, insects, structure, mold and the like, and you don't need to pay extra for those services. A trained inspector knows what to look for and will make comments on anything that even looks like a problem. That should include, insect damage, structural problems, roof issues and so on. So why pay for an ancillary service that should be included in a "normal" home inspection?
I would like to mention that the BIG ticket items are not a little rot on the trim or loose gutter or missing downspouts. The big ticket items are the roof, the structure and the foundation, to name a few. Oh, and the sewer line. I recommend you get a sewer scope for your own peace of mind. I know people who didn't and ended up paying upwards of $10,000 to repair sewer line issues. The average sewer line inspection is around $125. That is money well spent. And so it a good home inspection.
I hope this helps someone in finding a home inspection company to work with. Keep your eyes on the Big Things, don't sweat the little things, an inspector worth his pay is going to find the little things too. You just be concerned with the things that are going "break the bank," and you should be fine. Feel free to call me with any questions you might have or to leave comments.
