A home inspection is the most important due-diligence step you'll take before buying a house — but a lot of buyers walk into their inspection without a clear picture of what's actually covered, what isn't, and how to use the report. Here's the honest breakdown.
A standard home inspection in Michigan follows the InterNACHI Standards of Practice (or a similar standard). It is a non-invasive, visual evaluation of the readily accessible systems and components of the home. That includes:
On every visit we walk the roof when conditions allow, enter the attic, enter the crawl space, open the electrical panel, run every plumbing fixture, cycle every appliance, and operate every accessible window and door. The point is not to make a list of cosmetic complaints — it is to find the conditions that affect safety, function, and the long-term cost of owning the home.
Just as important as what's covered is what isn't. A standard home inspection is not:
A typical buyer's home inspection on a 1,500–3,500 sq ft home takes 3–4 hours on site. Larger or older homes can take 5+ hours. We strongly encourage buyers to attend — being there lets you see conditions firsthand and ask questions in real time. We will walk you through every significant finding before we leave.
Within 48 hours you'll get a written report with photos of every significant finding. The report is organized by system and includes a summary of the most important items at the top. Use it to:
A good home inspection gives you the truth about the property in front of you — what's working, what isn't, what to fix now, and what to plan for. It's not a guarantee, it's not a warranty, and it's not a substitute for specialist inspections on systems that need them. But it is the most cost-effective insurance policy a homebuyer can buy. Don't skip it, don't rush it, and don't pick the cheapest inspector you can find.