Home Inspection Guide

Freddie Mac has put together a 3 step program for a consumer inspection which is different from hiring a professional home inspector. This information is provided as a guide only and does not necessarily reflect the views and advice of Keeler Family REALTORS®.

(Courtesy of Freddie Mac)

The purpose of this is to give you the tools you need to select and maintain the right home for you. We think you'll agree that the right home for you is affordable, comfortable and within your means to maintain for as long as you choose to live in it. 

This article offers insights that will help you make an informed decision in your choice of a home. Affording a home involves more than having enough money to cover the down payment, closing costs and monthly mortgage obligations. Maintaining the overall condition of the home while you live in it and the repairs or preventive measures needed to do so can be just as costly.

This kit will explain how to conduct your own consumer home inspection with an easy­to­use, step­by­step approach. Once you've evaluated your results, you'll be better equipped to make a wise decision, whether it's

"Yes, I like this home; it suits the needs of my family, and I can afford to buy and maintain it." 

or

"No, I cannot realistically afford to buy and maintain this home."

Either way, it pays to know what you're up against before you make an offer to purchase.

The consumer home inspection does not replace the professional home inspection. You do the consumer home inspection before making an offer to purchase a home. Once you conduct your own consumer home inspection and make a decision to buy a particular home, you will sign a contract and have the home you've selected professionally inspected. The professional home inspector gives you an objective and comprehensive report before closing.

In addition, you may want to have the home tested for possible environmental hazards which are not usually visible, including, lead in the water, lead in paint, asbestos, radon or other toxic materials.

• Make sure you can afford to buy your home and maintain it
• Equip yourself with the tools you need to make an educated decision in your own best interest
• Learn what's ahead of you now, rather than down the road
• An informed homebuyer is a successful homeowner.

Before You Conduct a Consumer Home Inspection

Schedule your home inspection during day-light hours. You may want to bring along the following tools:

• The Consumer Home Inspection Form
• A powerful flashlight to use in basements and crawl spaces
• A stepladder to look in the attic to check insulation, the underside of the roof and indirect lighting fixtures
• A tape recorder to record any information too lengthy to note on the inspection form
• A circuit tester to check the circuits

Helpful Hints

Plan to go through the home completely two times so you can do an overall analysis. Remember to consider the following when you conduct your home inspection so you can effectively evaluate the home:

• The existing condition of all systems and equipment
• Any unusual features that may increase or decrease the appeal of the home
• Any problems or features you want your professional home inspector to check out
• The quality and condition of the structure
• Routine house cleaning and maintenance items: paint, furnace filters, gutters, caulking in bathrooms, landscaping, floors, appliances, walls, etc.

What to Expect

A Consumer Home Inspection Kit will give you the information you need to:

• Identify a home's distinguishing features that make it attractive for purchase
• Estimate the costs and identify solutions for any problems uncovered during the consumer home inspection
• Provide a basis for comparing homes you are considering buying