Most people think that the only time to get a home inspection is when they are purchasing a new home.  This couldn't be further from the truth.  There are many reasons to get a home inspection.  The most common inspections are when you are selling a home, purchasing a new pre-construction home which also referred to as a PDI or a home maintenance inspection. 

In the event of a residential resale home inspection, this will provide you with invaluable resources about the current state of the property you are considering purchasing.  A home inspection will allow you to prioritize repairs and identify safety issues that could potentially affect your family's health and well-being. Having a home inspection performed when you are purchasing a new home will allow you to discover any current or potential issues that may be lying dormant.  Although the home inspector cannot see what is currently behind the walls, they are able to check the plumbing, electrical, roof, detect any water or moistures issues as well as structural issues.   No re-sale home is perfect in an inspection and minor, non-urgent repairs usually always come up, however we are looking for the high ticket defects that can turn out to be a money pit. This will also give you some negotiating power to reduce the price on the purchase or have the issue addressed by the seller before the closing. It will also help you make an educated decisions as to whether this home is for you or not. Having a "Green Check" on an inspection is almost like a clean bill of health from your doctor.  You can move confidently with your purchase knowing that you will not have any immediate high ticket expenses arising and that the home is safe.

Another common inspection is a Pre- Inspection.  Sellers or their agents often get this done before putting the house on the market.  A Pre-home inspection is a great marketing tool for getting your home sold faster and potentially selling it for over the asking price if a multiple offer scenario arises.  The biggest advantage to this type of inspection is it allows you to find potential problems with the home and have them repaired prior to listing the home.  You can decide to fix it or not but at least it will not be a surprise if a potential buyer does an inspection of their own and it comes up again.  

Many home owners will get a home maintenance Inspection on their home every 3-5 years.  It is a $300.00-$500.00 cost, however major issues that occur with a home often could have been repaired for pennies on the dollar if only they would have been discovered sooner.  A home maintenance inspection will also allow you to prioritize and plan savings for the general maintenance of your home.

Keep in mind that regardless of what type of home inspection you are having performed, it is important to understand that it is not a guarantee that there is nothing wrong with the home or that something will not break.  The inspection is an indication of the state of the home that specific day. Some inspectors are better than others and the industry is not regulated.  Therefore it is very important that you hire a certified, insured inspector that is properly educated and trained. You should also confirm that you will be receiving a full report on the house once the inspection has been completed. Some inspectors will give you a hand written report and others will give you a digital copy.