INSPECTING HOMES IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY MARYLAND

Home inspections can be very helpful when buying a home in Montgomery County, particularly an older home and/or a home with an in-ground basement foundation. The home inspection will tell you the general construction methods of the house, the age and condition of the roof, structure, windows; and the general condition of the systems such as the heating system, cooling system; and the general condition of the appliances, electrical and plumbing systems. Cosmetics are not a part of a home inspection.

The home inspector cannot guarantee that nothing will fail after you settle your purchase. Nor can we, your buyers agent. However, we can protect you by a careful inspection of the home with particular attention to material defects. A material defect is a defect that would negatively impact the value or safety of a home.

Montgomery County is a very consumer friendly location and the Greater Capital Area Association of Realtors has developed an inspection contingency form that offers you as much protection as possible. Homes in Montgomery County were usually well built to consumer friendly codes and standards. But, the resale home you buy, whether it is 5 years old or 55 years old, may have systems that haven't been maintained as well as they should. Those are the defects your home inspector will be testing for and looking for.

Homefinders.com agents have completed hundreds of home inspections and we'll do our best to make sure you receive the protection that a home inspection will give. A good home inspector will examine the house from top to bottom. Be prepared for the home inspection to take anywhere from 2 to 6 hours and cost approximately $1.25 per $1000 of sale price, depending on the size and age of the house. We'll be there with you so that we can observe any defects and prepare a HOME INSPECTION NOTICE to the seller advising them of the defects that need repair or remediation.

Below is a scenario of a thorough home inspection.

Structure
The home inspector will look for structural integrity, They will evaluate the quality of construction and materials used.

Exterior
A thorough inspection of the roof should reveal any past or present leaks. The exterior finishing will be inspected for cracked bricks, loose siding, improper grading and anything else suitable for your purchase.

Interior
The interior will be observed for signs of movement. A good home inspector will look for signs of unusual cracking, separating, shifting in the house.

Mechanicals
The heating and air conditioning will be tested, temperature permitting, and since this is an expensive appliance, the inspector may recommend servicing of the unit if it appears that the present owners have neglected this important duty.

Appliances
All kitchen appliances will be run through their cycle to make sure that they function properly. The refrigerator will be tested for temperature and seals. The range, microwave, disposer will all be run to make sure they know what to do.

Plumbing
All bathrooms, kitchen, laundry, exterior plumbing will be tested and inspected. This task has become very important since builders have been downgrading building materials for several years to compensate for escalating land costs.

Electrical
All visible wiring, panel boxes, fixtures, switches, outlets will be tested for operating condition and safety. Often we find home owner repairs will be the most hazardous. If the homeowner did not obtain a permit and have work inspected, it may be defective and dangerous. A good home inspector spends a lot of time looking at electrical components of a house.

What happens after the home inspection?
YOU MAY NOT WANT TO BUY THE HOME AFTER THE INSPECTION
If the home inspector finds serious problems such as structural defects, you will have to make a decision as to whether or not to go through with the purchase. If the home inspection shows defects that are repairable or replaceable, your agent will write an addendum requesting the repairs to be made by the seller prior to settlement. The seller may agree, refuse or negotiate a cash settlement to compensate you for the defects found.

You and your agent will decide on the best way to handle any defects found. The important thing is that you are an EMPOWERED HOME BUYER when you know the good AND the not so good about a home.

NOTE: Since many homes in Montgomery County receive several offers quickly following listing, home buyers may optimize their offer by eliminating the home inspection. We would never recommend that a home buyer decide against a home inspection. But, homes have been sold for hundreds of years before home inspections and, while the home inspection is helpful, it is not required and homeowners always have and always will have home repairs.

If you decide to forego the home inspection, we will accompany you on a thorough walk-through of the house prior to settlement where every appliance, system, light fixture, plumbing fixture will be tested. The Montgomery County Contract of Sale protects you. Although homes in Maryland are sold "as is", the contract also requires that systems, mechanicals, appliances, be in operation condition. So, even though you may not have the home inspection, you can still make sure everything will "work" prior to settlement.

Note: Some foreclosure sales are sold not subject to the walk-through inspection. We'll help you to understand this type of "as is" sale.

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