Can You Fail a Home Inspection?

Jake McPherson, Owner/Lead Inspector

When people hear the words home inspection, one of the first questions will be: “will my home fail the home inspection?”  The simple answer is no, your home or a home you may be interested in buying will not fail a home inspection.  If anyone tells you differently they are completely wrong. A home inspection is not code enforcement, it is not a city inspection and it is not someone showing up to give your house a grade.  So, what is a home inspection then? A home inspection is a detailed visual evaluation of the condition of the home at the time of the inspection.  My focus is to keep it simple and help you understand what is going on with the home, and what needs attention, or what you may want to plan for in the future.  Homes are made up of systems, materials, and components that wear down over time.  This includes things like roofing material, water heaters, furnace or air conditioners, deck boards, plumbing and more.  All these things may show signs of wear.  Does that mean the home “fails”.  NO! Absolutely not.  All it means is that that home has some items that should be monitored, maintained, repaired or further evaluated.  A good home inspection gives you information, it helps you make a better decision and helps you avoid surprises. 

What are you really looking for? 

During the inspection, I am looking for major visible and accessible parts of the home.  This includes roofs (as long as its safe), foundation, attics/insulation, electrical systems, plumbing systems, heating/AC, rooms, safety concerns and signs of moisture.  The goal is not to find the “gotcha” items.  The goal is to document the current condition of the home and help you understand what may need attention now, soon, or later on. I like to think of the home inspection as a maintenance checkup.  Every year most people have a health and wellness checkup.  Our doctors can let us know and understand our health and wellness. When you take your vehicle to the mechanic they will provide a system check.  If your mechanic said that your brakes are low and suggested replacement, did your car fail?  No, it just means that it needs a little attention either now or down the road.   Your home inspection works the same way.  Your home inspection helps identify worn, aging, damaged components so you can make plans now or in the future.

New Service: Home Maintenance Planning

Knowing this I will be offering a home maintenance planning service where I can talk to you, take information from the inspection report and help create a plan for you.  Now you are not left with a confusing report and have the feeling of being overwhelmed.  I’ll take those findings and break them into several smaller sub-categories.  

1. Immediate Concerns: Items that should be addressed sooner due to safety concerns

2. Short-Term Planning: Items that may not be urgent but should be handled in the near future to prevent further wear or damage.

3. Long-Term Planning: Bigger ticket items that may need some budgeting or monitoring for.

4. Routine Home Maintenance: This could also fall into a seasonal or annual tasks that help protect and prolong your home's life.  

   
   

Why should this matter to buyers? 

If you are buying a home, the inspection helps you understand what you are actually purchasing.  It can help you ask better questions, plan repairs, understand future expenses, and make a more informed decision.  Again, your home will not pass or fail.  You are in control and get to make the decision.  

Why should this matter for sellers?

If you are selling a home, a pre-listing inspection can help you identify issues before buyers do.  That gives you a chance to make repairs, gather contractor estimates, or disclose to buyers any items or questions that may come up. 

Why does this matter for current homeowners?

You don’t need to be buying or selling to benefit from a home inspection.  Many homeowners live in their homes for years without checking their roof, attic/insulation, electrical panel, or mechanical system closely.  An annual or maintenance focused inspection can help you catch issues early and plan ahead.  Having that peace of mind will be much cheaper than waiting until something fails and you need to make an emergency repair. 

The Bottom Line

You cannot fail a home inspection.  This is not about judgment, it's just information.  It’s normal to be living in a home with some form of worn components.  The value of the inspection is to know and learn what items in your home are, how they are functioning, possibly their maintenance, and if you may need to address any repairs in the future.