So you just bought a home that was for sale in Kalamazoo or Portage MI and now you have decided to hire a Kalamazoo area home inspector to check it out for you.  Good decision.  But what really happens during a home inspection? What exactly does a Kalamazoo Michigan home inspector do?

A typical home inspection takes between two to three hours. Sometimes, it may take longer, depending on the size of the home. A Kalamazoo MI area home inspector includes in the examination all the major components of the house, such as roofing, structural, exterior, and interior finishes, electrical, heating/air conditioning, insulation, plumbing, and related systems.

What a Home Inspection IS NOT

A Kalamazoo Michigan home inspector has all the technical skills and knowledge to perform a more or less accurate visual assessment of a home. However, you should be careful to know that most professional Kalamazoo Michigan home inspectors are not allowed to make appraisals or exact quotations for repairs. Some trade organizations prohibit this as it is considered a biased practice. On the other hand, appraisals are usually left to real estate agents who have the necessary training and background, so unless your Kalamazoo Michigan home inspector is also trained in that regard, it is best not to accept his word on this at face value. Another thing that Kalamazoo Michigan home inspectors cannot do is to see if a building conforms with the local building code. This job is usually left to agents who work for the government in ensuring that a building is up to the community’s building code.

The Kalamazoo Michigan home inspector’s report should not be used as a guarantee. Nor should it be used to provide you with a warranty, although some home buyers can use the information they get there to negotiate with their seller to include repair costs, warranties, and the like in the contract.

Some Kalamazoo MI area home inspectors will include water analysis and septic inspections in their usual rounds. However, these two are not actually part of a standard inspection. At best, the report that Kalamazoo Michigan home inspectors make regarding these components are only persuasive and should not be used as a replacement for a standard septic inspection performed by a professional. You can access several laboratories that provide water sample vials that may be collected and filled by you and submitted to the lab for analysis.

Air conditioners are typically not inspected, unless it's a warm enough temperature outside to turn on the A/C,  Pools and spas are likewise not included as inspection items. Neither are wood burning appliances such as fireplaces and wood stoves, although a Kalamazoo Michigan home inspector may include those in his report. Usually, however, a WETT inspector or a Wood Energy Technology Transfer examiner check those named areas. Some fire insurance companies actually provide discounts for WETT inspected and approved properties, so it might be better if you just leave those areas for the WETT specialist than to a Kalamazoo Michigan home inspector.

Knowing what to expect and what not to expect from a Kalamazoo Michigan home inspector will help you make an informed decision. It will also help you learn about the value of your home, as well as the cost for future upkeep.  But getting the home inspection was a good decision.  While you're at it, you should have a pest inspection too.  Some Kalamazoo MI are home inspectors actually are certified pest inspectors as well as provide radon testing.  One stop shopping.

There is a lot of free information available to you about buying, selling or investing in Kalamazoo MI real estate.  For complete information about the Kalamazoo MI real estate market including Kalamazoo homes for sale, property values and more, please visit the most complete website dedicated to everything Kalamazoo real estate.

For a FREE Weekly List of Homes For Sale Kalamazoo MI and surrounding areas, you may fill in the form below and we will compile a list from our three wholesale databases and send them to you right away. Never an obligation, never a hassle. Just fill in the form below with your correct name and e-mail address and we will e-mail you the list.

You may specify in the comments box if you have a particular interest in Kalamazoo foreclosures, or Kalamazoo HUD homes for sale. 

If you or someone you know are in need of a competent and caring Kalamazoo real estate professional in or near Kalamazoo MI, I hope you will contact me.

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 Tags: Kalamazoo mi real estate, kalamazoo mi realtors, kalamazoo mi homes for sale, joel nelson

Article's Author

Joel Nelson
Keller Williams Realty - Kalamazoo
Kalamazoo, MI

Contact Joel Nelson