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How Home Inspections Work

Home Inspections: An Overview

A home inspection is a little bit like an annual check-up at the doctor, only in this case the patient is your new home! A home inspection first assesses the skeleton, or structure, of a property, then reviews the property's major systems. Home inspectors tend to start by looking at a home's foundation, then move on to other large-scale structural elements - such as its walls, roof, basement and crawl space, windows and doors, and how well attached decks, porches, sidewalks and related construction have been built. Then the inspection narrows in on specific systems, such as heating and cooling systems, plumbing, and electrical systems.

The major components of a home inspection focus on these systems:

The Foundation: Holds a Home in Place
The Structure: Holds a Home's Shape
The Roof: Keeps the Home Dry
The Exterior: Protects From the Elements
The Interior: Circulates Heat, Air and Water
The Plumbing System: Transports Water and Waste
The Electrical System: Keeps Lights and Appliances Running
The Heating and Cooling Systems: Creates a Comfortable Environment