Home Inspection Types: Buyer Vs. Seller Inspection

During a potential home sale or certain other similar circumstances, a few different types of home inspections might be prudent. These “types” really refer to which party is in charge of ordering the inspection and utilizing its results, but there can be some significant variation here depending on the situation.

At Aerolite Consulting, we’re happy to offer robust home inspections, energy audits and environmental testing services for any home, whether you’re selling it, buying it or involved in another type of unique circumstance. This two-part blog series will go over the different types of home inspection out there and dig into which will be utilized depending on the details of the situation.

Standard Inspection Vs. Our Environmental Testing

First and foremost, before we get into the various sources of home inspection and how they alter the program, a quick word on how Aerolite goes above and beyond in this area for all clients. While many home inspection services are limited to major interior and exterior features, fixtures and appliances, ours take it to the next level.

Not only do we provide standard home inspection services, we also offer energy audits and environmental contaminant testing for risks like mold, asbestos, lead and even methamphetamine residue. These contaminants are both a health risk and a major detractor when it comes to home value, and identifying them through a home inspection allows prospective buyers to return to the seller and discuss remediation of the contaminant before signing any sale documents.

Now we’ll look at the various sources of inspections and how these will impact the areas covered and the costs of a home inspection.

Buyer’s Inspection

By far the most common type of home inspection, and the one we listed above, is the buyer’s inspection, which as the name suggests is ordered by the prospective buyer of a given home. In these situations, inspectors will be looking for any issues that change the math on the home purchase: Major structural defects or concerns that may lead to them, safety hazards, and any problems that may block your ability to properly finance or insure the home.

The areas inspected for a buyer’s inspection are diverse and detailed, featuring both indoor and outdoor realms. Inspectors will cover all important home systems, from plumbing and HVAC to electricity.

In nearly every case, the buyer pays for this inspection as part of the home purchase.

Pre-Listing Inspection (Seller’s Inspection)

In other cases, the seller themselves will order an inspection, known as a pre-listing inspection. This is mostly a verification inspection – sellers ordering it are covering all their bases, helping prevent the buyer’s discovery of issues that may create a hassle closer to closing day.

Seller’s inspections contain all the same areas inspected as buyer’s inspections, and similar costs as well. However, they will be paid for by the seller, not the buyer, and are generally done earlier in the process.

For more on the kinds of home inspections available based on who is ordering them, or to learn about any of our home inspection or environmental testing services, speak to the staff at Aerolite Consulting today.