Phoenix is a sprawling metro area, known as the Valley of the Sun. The area is known for it's year-round sun and warm temperatures. Population of the Phoenix area has swelled to near 2 million after a boom and bust in the last housing crisis. If you're new to the area, here are some resources once you get past the home inspection and closing of your home in Phoenix!
Phoenix Real Estate Update & Stats
Your home offer has been accepted, and you are ready to take the keys and run. Before you do, you will need a quality home inspection. Once you fall in love with a home, the last thing you want are surprises on the home inspection report that make you question your decision. We don’t want that either. We want to make sure you are fully informed about your investment since a home can hold many secrets if it’s not inspected correctly.
The day of your home inspection will have a lot of moving parts. We will talk more about finding a qualified inspector below, but first, let’s talk about what the inspection process looks like and what you can expect.
A good home inspector will have their own checklist to work off of, ensuring they cover as much of the home that is accessible. It isn’t unusual for a professional to crawl, climb, and contort their way into spaces to give you the best information about your pending purchase as possible. Here is a short list of items a certified professional will look at. This is not an exhaustive list, but give you a sense of what they investigate and look for.
The Exterior:
The Foundation:
The Yard:
The Interior:
According to the professionals at Trulia, a home inspection will take about 2-3 hours depending on the size of the home and its features.
After the inspection is done, a report is typically available to the homebuyer within 24-48 hours. This report can take an inspector 5-8 hours just to put together. The inspection report will look different depending on who produces it. For example, Spectora is popular because it creates visual and easy-to-read option for homebuyers. Many reports will include photos, especially in areas of trouble or concern.
After receiving your report you will likely see a few things flagged. Very few homes get away free and clear and usually have at least a few blemishes. Some of the defects might end up being more significant than others, so let’s take a quick look at what that means.
Major Defect - Three main defects that can be identified as "major" by a home inspector are:
1. Structural. This targets how the home is built and the condition of the materials used during construction.
2. Safety hazards. such as items that can cause harm or damage.
3. Workmanship. This presents itself in various ways in structural, electrical, mechanical, and other faulty or shoddy work.
Major defects are usually those you want fixed or addressed if they are found on your home inspection report.
Minor Defect - These defects are characterized as minor because they can usually be fixed relatively easy. Some may be worth asking the home seller to fix, while others might not be worth the trouble to ask for if they come off ‘nit-picky” in nature.
Finally, before we send you off into homebuyer bliss, when looking for a home inspector, consider learning more about them and their background. Are they InterNACHI or ASHI certified? Do they have ratings from those who have used them before? Do they belong to any associations? Take your time and make a solid attempt at doing your homework, it will pay off in the end when you’re sipping your coffee by your new home fireplace.
Looking for an Inspector in Tucson? Click here!
