Home Inspection Frequently Asked Questions
Buying, selling, or building a home comes with plenty of questions. A professional home inspection can help you better understand a property's condition, identify visible concerns, and make a more informed decision before moving forward.
TriMark Home Inspectors provide professional home inspection services throughout Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, Wilson, Clayton, and surrounding North Carolina communities. Below, our inspectors answer some of the most common questions about home inspections, new construction inspections, builder warranty inspections, radon testing, pest inspections, and more.
What Is a Home Inspection?
A home inspection is a professional, objective, visual examination of a home's readily accessible systems and components. The purpose of a home inspection is to help you better understand the property's current condition and identify areas that may need repair, replacement, maintenance, or further evaluation.
Home inspections are commonly performed during the home-buying process, but they can also be valuable for homeowners preparing to sell, buyers of newly constructed homes, homeowners nearing the end of a builder warranty, and anyone who wants a better understanding of their property's condition.
What Is Included in a Home Inspection by TriMark Inspectors?
A standard home inspection includes a visual evaluation of the home's major accessible systems and components. This typically includes the structure, foundation, roof, exterior, electrical system, plumbing system, heating and cooling systems, interior, insulation, ventilation, and other readily accessible areas of the property.
Every home is different, and the scope of an inspection may be affected by accessibility, safety concerns, or the condition of the property. TriMark Home Inspections performs inspections that meet or exceed the requirements established by the North Carolina Home Inspector Licensure Board.
For additional details, pricing, and scheduling information, visit our Home Inspection Services page.
How Long Does a Home Inspection Take?
The amount of time required for a home inspection depends on several factors, including the size, age, condition, and accessibility of the property.
A smaller or newer home may take less time to inspect than a larger, older, or more complex property. Homes with crawl spaces, multiple HVAC systems, additional structures, or numerous areas of concern may also require additional inspection time.
Your TriMark home inspector can provide a better estimate based on the specific property being inspected.
Should I Attend My Home Inspection?
You are not required to attend your home inspection, but TriMark encourages clients to participate when possible.
Attending the inspection gives you an opportunity to learn more about the home, ask questions, and better understand the inspector's findings. If you are unable to attend the entire inspection, you may choose to arrive near the end of the appointment to review important findings with your inspector.
When Will I Receive My Home Inspection Report?
Inspection reports are normally emailed within one or two business days after the inspection, depending on the age and condition of the home.
TriMark Home Inspections provides a detailed digital inspection report that includes descriptions of the systems and components inspected, narrative comments regarding items that may require attention, and photographs documenting significant findings.
What Happens If the Home Inspector Finds Problems?
Almost every home has issues that need to be documented—even newly constructed homes.
If your home inspection identifies concerns, the inspection report can help you better understand the property's condition and determine what steps may be appropriate. Depending on the situation, you may choose to request repairs, negotiate with the seller, seek additional evaluation from a qualified contractor or specialist, budget for future repairs, or simply move forward with a better understanding of the home.
The purpose of a home inspection is not to determine whether a house is "good" or "bad." It is designed to provide information that can help you make a more informed decision.
Can a House Fail a Home Inspection?
No. A home inspection is not a pass-or-fail test.
Instead, the home inspector documents the condition of the property's accessible systems and components and identifies items that may need repair, maintenance, replacement, or further evaluation.
Even a home with several significant concerns does not technically "fail" a home inspection. Your inspection report provides information that buyers, sellers, homeowners, and other parties can use to better understand the condition of the property and make informed decisions.
How Much Does a Home Inspection Cost in North Carolina?
The cost of a home inspection can vary depending on the size, age, location, and features of the property. Additional services, such as radon testing, pest inspections, mold or air sampling, and other specialty inspections, may also affect the total cost.
TriMark Home Inspections provides transparent pricing for home inspection services in Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, Wilson, Clayton, and surrounding North Carolina communities. Visit our Home Inspection Pricing and Scheduling page to view current pricing and schedule your inspection.
Who Pays for the Home Inspection?
In many real estate transactions, the buyer pays for the home inspection because the inspection is performed for the buyer's information and benefit.
However, payment arrangements can vary depending on the transaction and the agreement between the parties involved.
Sellers and homeowners may also choose to schedule and pay for a professional home inspection before listing a property or when evaluating the current condition of their home.
Is a Home Inspection Required When Buying a House in North Carolina?
A home inspection is not automatically required for every real estate transaction in North Carolina. However, many homebuyers choose to have a professional home inspection performed before completing the purchase of a property.
Buying a home is a major investment, and a professional inspection can provide valuable information about the property's condition that may not be obvious during a typical walkthrough.
Your real estate agent or attorney can help you better understand the terms and inspection options associated with your specific real estate transaction.
What Are the Most Common Problems Found During a Home Inspection?
Every home is different, but common home inspection findings can involve roofing, electrical systems, plumbing, heating and cooling equipment, moisture intrusion, drainage, crawl spaces, ventilation, structural components, and general maintenance concerns.
Older homes may have different issues than newer properties, but new construction is not automatically free of defects, incomplete work, or installation concerns.
A professional home inspection provides a snapshot of the home's visible and accessible condition at the time of the inspection.
Should I Get a Home Inspection on a New Construction Home?
Yes. A newly built home can still have installation defects, incomplete work, damaged components, or other issues that may not be obvious to the homeowner.
A new construction home inspection provides an additional professional evaluation of the property before closing or at other important stages of the construction process. TriMark offers inspections designed specifically for newly constructed homes, including pre-drywall inspections and builder warranty inspections.
What Is a Pre-Drywall Inspection?
A pre-drywall inspection is performed during the construction process before drywall is installed. This allows the inspector to evaluate interior framing and other accessible components that may no longer be visible once construction progresses.
Depending on the stage of construction, a pre-drywall inspection may include areas such as structural framing, the foundation, roof, exterior grade, and rough-in electrical and plumbing systems.
A pre-drywall inspection can help identify concerns while important components are still accessible. Learn more about TriMark's Pre-Drywall Inspection Services and schedule your inspection.
What Is a Builder Warranty Inspection?
A builder warranty inspection is performed before the expiration of a new home's builder warranty. Many homeowners choose to schedule this type of inspection near the end of the warranty period so they can identify potential concerns and address them with the builder before coverage expires.
A builder warranty inspection can help document the current condition of the home's accessible systems and components and identify items that may require attention.
If you recently purchased a newly constructed home, consider scheduling a Builder Warranty Inspection before your builder warranty expires.
What Is a Re-Inspection?
A re-inspection is performed after repairs or corrections have been made to items previously identified during an inspection.
The purpose of the re-inspection is to visually evaluate the specific items that were previously documented and determine whether the reported repairs or corrections appear to have been completed.
A re-inspection can provide additional information and documentation before you move forward with your real estate transaction. Learn more about TriMark's Builder Warranty Re-Inspection Services for previously inspected homes.
Should I Get a Radon Test When Buying a Home in North Carolina?
Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that can enter a home through the ground and accumulate indoors.
Because radon cannot be seen or smelled, testing is the only way to determine the radon level in a home. Radon levels can vary from one property to another, including between neighboring homes.
If you are buying a home in North Carolina and are concerned about radon exposure, professional Radon Testing can provide information about the radon levels present during the testing period.
Do I Need a Pest Inspection When Buying a Home?
A pest inspection can help identify evidence of wood-destroying insects and other conditions that may affect a property.
Depending on the type of real estate transaction, your lender, real estate agreement, or other parties involved, a pest inspection or wood-destroying insect report may be requested or recommended.
TriMark offers pest inspection services to provide additional information about the condition of the property.
Can a Home Inspector Find Mold?
During a home inspection, an inspector may observe visible conditions that could indicate moisture problems or possible microbial growth. However, mold cannot always be identified or fully evaluated through a standard visual home inspection alone.
Depending on the situation, mold air sampling or additional evaluation may be recommended to provide more information.
If you have concerns about mold or indoor air quality, TriMark offers additional testing services that may be appropriate for your situation.
Should I Have the Sewer Line Inspected Before Buying a Home?
Depending on the age and condition of the property, a sewer line evaluation may be worth considering before purchasing a home.
Sewer line repairs can be expensive, and problems within the sewer system may not be visible during a standard home inspection. If you have concerns about a property's sewer system, ask whether an additional sewer line evaluation is appropriate before closing.
Do Home Inspectors Inspect Crawl Spaces?
When accessible and safe to enter, crawl spaces are evaluated as part of a standard home inspection.
The inspector may observe visible structural components, insulation, moisture conditions, plumbing, ventilation, and other accessible systems or components within the crawl space.
Some crawl spaces may have limited accessibility or conditions that prevent a complete evaluation. Any significant limitations will be documented in the home inspection report.
What Should I Do Before My Home Inspection?
If you are a homeowner or seller preparing for a home inspection, make sure the inspector can safely access important areas of the property.
Whenever possible, provide access to the attic, crawl space, electrical panel, HVAC equipment, water heater, and other major systems. Remove items blocking access and make sure utilities are turned on.
It is also helpful to secure pets and provide any necessary access information before the scheduled inspection appointment.
How Do I Schedule a Home Inspection With TriMark?
Scheduling a home inspection with TriMark Home Inspections is simple. You can schedule your home inspection online or call JT to discuss the property and the inspection services you need.
TriMark provides professional home inspection services throughout Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, Wilson, Clayton, and surrounding North Carolina communities.
Whether you are buying an existing home, building a new home, approaching the end of your builder warranty, or simply want to better understand the condition of your property, TriMark Home Inspections is here to help you make a more informed decision