Is A Home Inspection Required?

Nov 15, 2018

We’re often asked, “Is a home inspection required?”  Although your lender may not require a home inspection, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have one performed.  Your home purchase is one of the largest investments you will make in your lifetime, and having a professional home inspector alert you to potential problems can save you money and unwanted surprises in the future.

There are other reasons to have a home inspection, too.  If an appraiser finds an apparent deficiency in the condition of the home, an underwriter may ask to see the related section of the home inspection (sometimes called the engineer’s report).  In this instance, having secured a home inspection up front can save you valuable time in the loan process.  Additionally, identifying problems early in the process may mean the seller will remedy them prior to sale.

Purchasing a home with confidence that it is in good condition, or at the least the knowledge of any potential issues, makes for more accurate cost expectations, and this is clearly to your benefit as a home buyer.  Typically, the home inspection is a cost to the home buyer; but, by comparison, the cost of a home inspection is small when compared to unforeseen issues that may arise in the future.