Here are some of the resources available:
1. Home Inspection Video - See a home inspection!
2. Read an actual home inspection report.
3. Read/search Barry Stone's column, Inspector's In the House (below).
4. Send a question using the form to the right. ===>
5. If you are a Seller, get your own inspection before you put your home on the market.

California does not require any license to be a home inspector, so it is important for both home buyers and sellers to make sure that they hire an inspector who is a certified residential inspector and who carries errors and omissions insurance. To help you think through the selection of your home inspector, click here for our 10 Tips.

QUESTIONS/ANSWERS Click on any of these topics to read questions and answers by syndicated columnist Barry Stone.
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As a buyer, you can be present on the home inspection (and we really recommend it). Being there gives you a chance to ask questions, to see and discuss what Mark has found, and to ask other questions about your new home. Some of the areas inspected include: structure, heating and cooling, roof, electrical system, plumbing and fixtures, attic, basement and/or crawl space, foundation, gutters, insulation, interior and exterior walls, porches and decks, and the water heater and appliances.

A good inspector helps both buyers and sellers become aware of any defects that weren't already known. (If they had been known, they would have been disclosed.) Please note: Sellers have no obligation to repair any defects. Repair requests are just that--requests. However, if an unknown defect is a safety issue, violates the then-current building code, or affects functionality, many sellers will accommodate the request in one way or another. A good inspection helps to put all those issues on the table so that everyone is satisfied with the transaction.

For information about various topics, just click on any of the links to the left or run your own search! One of our 600+ articles is posted below.

BASIC QUESTIONS ABOUT HOME INSPECTION
Inspector's in the House by Barry Stone, Certified Building Inspector

Dear Barry,
Now that I'm preparing to buy a home, I have three basic questions regarding home inspection: When should a home inspection be performed? How much time does it take? And
how much does an inspection cost? Bobby

Dear Bobby,
The time to schedule a home inspection is immediately after the purchase contract is signed. Once you have an accepted offer, the choice to have a professional inspection is your first major decision. If you elect that option, your contractual obligation to complete the purchase is contingent upon your acceptance of the home inspector's findings. From that moment until the inspection contingency is waived, the sellers are holding their breath over this issue, waiting to see if you are committed to the deal. Therefore, time is of the essence.

The typical duration for a home inspection is about 2 ' to 4 hours, depending upon the size, complexity, and general condition of the property. A quality inspection will rarely take fewer than 2 ' hours. Exceptions would include moderately sized condominiums and mobile homes.

The inspection report should be ready within 24 hours of the inspection, although many inspectors are able to produce a written report on site, at the conclusion of the inspection.

Finally, the cost of a quality inspection should be around $250 to $300 for an average size home. For a large residence or a property with additional units, the inspection will take more time, and therefore, the cost will be more. But whatever you do, don't make the mistake of price shopping. Bargain inspections are no bargain. In most cases, they do not provide thorough disclosure and can cost you thousands of dollars in unreported defects. Let your priority be quality. Make sure that you hire the most thorough and experienced home inspector in your area, someone with a reputation for comprehensive detail.

Distributed by Access Media Group. To write to Barry Stone, please visit him on the web at www.housedetective.com.