Why should I have a home inspection?

 

As a homebuyer, a home is often the largest purchase an individual or family will make in their lifetime. A home inspection educates you about your new home, and in some cases, can uncover substantial problems that may affect your use or enjoyment of the home, or worse, result in costly, unanticipated repairs. Your home inspector will discover things the average homebuyer won’t notice during a showing or two, and they aren’t always bad things either! It’s fairly common to discover unique features you may not have known your home had during the home inspection.

 

As a Seller, you have the option of providing a home inspection report in lieu of a Seller’s Disclosure. This can be beneficial to both you and your Realtor. A home inspection will often uncover potential defects or problems that might come up in a Buyer’s inspection, giving you the opportunity to address those defects before you sell your home. In some cases a Seller hasn’t lived in the home, and therefore does not feel comfortable completing a Seller’s Disclosure. In cases like these, a home inspection may be the best option for you, as a Seller, to reduce your liability and comply with state law. If you have questions regarding Disclosure requirements, consult your Realtor or a real estate attorney.

 

Should you, the homebuyer attend the inspection?

 

If your schedule permits, you’re encouraged to attend. Your attendance allows Eric to immediately answer any questions or concerns you may have about the inspection and the home. This also gives Eric an opportunity to discuss any deficiencies discovered, give you valuable information about unique features or systems in your new home, and point out immediate or future maintenance items.

 

When should I call for an inspection?

 

Typically a homebuyer will schedule an inspection once they have an accepted offer on their new home. Often, your offer will have an “Inspection Contingency,” which gives you a limited amount of time to complete any inspections. Specific questions regarding your situation should be directed to your Realtor.

 

If you’re selling your home, and are providing an inspection in lieu of a Seller’s Disclosure, you’ll want to schedule your inspection prior to putting your home on the market. Having the inspection done in advance gives you the opportunity to make any repairs prior to that first showing, and will alert you to potential issues that might arise should the Buyer of your home have an inspection.

 

How long does a home inspection take?

 

A typical home inspection will take approximately 3 to 4 hours. The time may vary depending on the home style and size, as well as the number of deficiencies discovered. A one bedroom condominium may only take one hour, where an 8,000 square foot 6 bedroom, 6 bath home with an indoor pool and three furnaces may take 8 hours.

 

How much does a home inspection cost?

 

Price varies based on location, scope, and size of the home.  Quotes can be provided over the phone as long as you have the location and size of the home.

 

Do I need a complete home inspection? I’m only worried about X, Y or Z.

 

Eric can tailor your inspection to your specific needs. The scope of the inspection can be limited to certain components or areas of concern, and costs can be adjusted accordingly.

 

Are you licensed?

 

The State of Minnesota does not currently have any license or certification requirements for private home inspectors. In fact, anyone could “hang their hat” as a home inspector, regardless of qualifications or education. Because of this, it’s important that the inspector you hire has the adequate training, experience, and expertise to provide you with the best home inspection possible.

 

What if my home fails the home inspection?

 

A home inspection isn’t a pass or fail test. A home inspection will give you a current evaluation of the overall condition of the home and all of its components within the scope of the inspection. Every home inspection will discover defects, occasionally large ones, but usually a lot of little ones. Keep in mind that no home is in perfect condition, and your home inspection is a tool for you to make an educated choice about your home purchase. Following the inspection, talk to your Realtor about any concerns you might have!

 

Who hires the home inspector?

 

The Buyer (or Seller in the case of pre-listing inspections) typically hires the home inspector, though it’s common that Realtors will refer the Buyer to a specific inspector. It’s important to remember that you have a choice of which inspector you hire to inspect your home, and the inspector that your Realtor refers you to is not your only choice.

 

Who gets the report?

 

The report is the property of the client, usually the Buyer or Seller. Copies can be given to your Realtor or any other party with your consent.

 

How quickly can I get an inspection done?

 

Scheduling is flexible. In some cases it’s possible to schedule a home inspection the very next day.  Eric will do his best to work with your schedule, and can often accommodate evening and weekend inspections if required. Please keep in mind that daylight is an absolute requirement for most of the inspection. Call Eric for availability.

 

I don’t have email or access to a computer, how can I get the report?

 

Printed reports can be mailed to you or picked up upon request. Alternatively, if you consent to having your Realtor receive a copy, they may be able to print it out for you.

 

Will you re-inspect deficiencies that have been repaired?

 

Yes. Sometimes a defect is discovered that is repaired before the closing. Eric will be happy to re-inspect those items to ensure the repairs were completed correctly and professionally for a nominal fee.

 

I’ve called 3 home inspectors and one is far cheaper than the others, should I hire someone based on cost?

 

It may sound cliché, but you do usually get what you pay for when it comes to a home inspection. A good home inspector has invested a lot of time, money, and energy in education and developing skills to deliver a superior inspection. Base your decision on your potential home inspector's qualifications and expertise, not on cost.

 

What locations does Oberg Inspections service?

 

Eric Oberg services the entire Twin Cities Metro Area including St. Paul, Minneapolis, and the surrounding suburbs. Inspections in out-state areas are available upon request. If you have a home or cabin further than one hour from St. Paul, please call Eric for availability and price.

 

I’m a Realtor, what are the advantages of referring Oberg Inspections to my clients?

 

Eric understands that a home inspector can make or break a deal. An emphasis is placed on conveying and explaining deficiencies in an impartial manner, with the goal of educating the client about their new home. While the main focus is to discover problems, Eric likes to point out good aspects of the home as well. Eric would never advise a client whether or not to purchase a home, and certainly would never describe the home as “good” or “bad.”

 

If defects are discovered that will require further negotiation with the Seller, Eric’s inspection reports can be a useful tool, provided the client consents to sharing the report. Full color photos and explanations can be extracted from the .pdf report, so any issues can be easily identified and addressed, saving you the time and frustration of explaining details that may be difficult to express otherwise.

 

I’m buying a brand new house, should I get a home inspection?

 

Home inspections on new homes are more common than one would think. Even a new home isn’t perfect. Deficiencies Eric has discovered in new construction homes include missing flashing details on the exterior, capped plumbing vents, hot water supplied to toilets, improperly installed tile, and shower drains the plumber overlooked hooking up, just to name a few.

 

Who will perform my home inspection?

 

Oberg Inspections has one inspector, Eric Oberg. Oberg Inspections is not a big, franchised inspection company with dozens of inspectors. When you hire Oberg Inspections, you will always get the professional, thorough inspection that only Eric provides.