Buying your first home is an excited and, at times, stressful process. One of the major things that needs to happen before the deal closes is a home inspection. If you have never gone through this process before, it can be hard to know how to find a reputable home inspector. 

Andrew Cunningham-Moorat is a home inspector with careful attention to detail. An expert in examining key areas of buildings, his home inspections are available for both residential and non-commercial properties. As an expert in his field, he shares his tips for finding a quality home inspector:

• Be aware of real estate agent recommendations. It is best to find your own home inspector instead of going with one the agent refers you to, as this poses a conflict of interest. An inspection that raises a lot of issues can be used to negotiate the price of the home down.

• A great way to find an inspector is to ask your friends who have recently bought their own home. 

• Check online for local home inspector reviews. See if they have good reviews on Google, Facebook, or other sites to make sure they provide a quality service. 

• Make sure the inspector is certified or licensed. 

• Ask potential inspectors for sample reports to see how thorough their inspections are. 

Buying your first home is both an exciting and stressful time. One step in the process is having your home inspected by an outside professional who can tell you about the condition of the house. While home inspectors will look at the actual structure of the home, there are also a lot of things they don’t look for that you will have to keep in mind. 

Andrew Cunningham-Moorat is a professional independent home inspector for non-commercial, residential, and mixed-used properties. He understands that a home inspector plays. Vital role in the home buying process. To help first-time buyers, he shares a list of what home inspectors do not look for during the inspection. You may need to hire another specialist or specialty inspector if you are worried about some of these items.

Home inspections do not generally include:

• Mold

• Asbestos

• Radon gas

• The ground and soil that your home is on or landscaping

• The condition of a swimming pool (other than the heaters and pumps)

• Septic systems

• Pests

• Indoor air quality

• Lead paint

• Insulation voids

• Cigarette smoke residue

• Fire sprinkler systems

• Alarm systems

• TV antenna or satellite dishes

• Detached structures

• Cosmetic things such as paint and wallpaper

If you’re looking to buy a house, a home inspection is part of the process. If you’re going to be a first-time homeowner soon, there are some things you should know about home inspections so that you are prepared when it comes time to seal the deal. 

Andrew Cunningham-Moorat is a home inspector with expertise in examining key areas of buildings for residential and non-commercial properties. He knows how vital home inspections are to the home buying process. He explains what to expect from a home inspection.

A home inspection is the last chance to find problems with the condition of the house before the purchase is finalised. Inspections can last a couple of hours depending on the size of the home, and buyers should plan to attend the inspection to ask questions and have another look at their new house. Buyers are usually the ones to pay for the inspection, though this can be part of the negotiation process. However, it can be beneficial for the buyer to hire their own inspector who isn’t connected to the seller. 

Home inspectors will review the following:

• Heating, ventilation, air conditioning systems

• Electrical wiring

• Plumbing

• Attic

• Roof

• Walls, ceilings, and floors

• Doors and windows

• Foundation

• Basement

Home inspectors will check the home for water damage, asses the condition of the insulation, looks for cracks and damages, foundational issues, and any other problems with the home. The report may include a lot of small things that you might not be bothered to fix, but keep an eye out for major issues, such as roof damage.