Home Inspections

One question I often get in regards to my potentially doing a home inspection for a home buyer is this, "How long does it take to inspect the house?". It varies on the size of the home of course but there is a common range of time needed.

I have been a home inspector in Central Ohio for years. I occasionally hear of a an inspector that spent only 45 minutes at a home and was done. I personally can not see how that is possible. This type of story is sometimes told to me by the seller of the home. Most of the time the seller is not present. The sellers have also told me that they wished they had an inspector that spent more time and did a more thorough job of inspecting when they bought the house.

I hear of the stories of things missed and and how the report was just a few sheets of paper with no photos. When you are looking for a home inspector for your next home purchase be sure to ask the inspector how long does the inspection at the property take. It should take 2.5 to 3 hours to do a thorough home inspection. Most inspectors will take notes during the inspection, I use a laptop computer to take notes and to type in concerns and observations.

Some inspectors will offer the report immediately others will have it completed in a day or so. I have the report done that evening. Placing the images of the inspection in to the report takes time and provides a much easier report to read and understand.

Home inspection reports created with a computer software with images make a more detailed report that is easier to read. Hand written report can be illegible and not very descriptive. Computer reports which have pictures also take some extra time to create. Your home inspector should take 2.5 to 3 hours on site and then some time to write and finish the report. If a home inspector tells he can have the report for you in a much short time, find another inspector because the detail you deserve will likely be missing from the work that they will do.