A home inspection typically takes around two to three hours to complete. This includes going through the property thoroughly and inspecting different aspects, such as the roof, plumbing, electrical wiring, and heating/cooling systems.
In some cases, your inspection may take longer.
What is a Home Inspection?
A home inspection is a thorough examination of the condition of a home. It is typically performed by a licensed, professional home inspector who will provide a written inspection report to the potential buyer. The report will include any major defects or problems with the home that should be addressed.
How Long Does a Home Inspection Take?
On average, a home inspection will take around two to three hours. This time can vary depending on the size of the home, sometimes the age of the home, as well as any additional services that may be requested.
For example, a smaller house around 1,000 square feet will usually take much less time to inspect than one that is 10,000 square feet.
Also, if you are also having some additional inspections done, such as needing a barn inspection or a pool inspection, this will add additional time to the overall process.
How Far in Advance Do I Need to Schedule a Home Inspection?
If you’re buying a home, you’ll want to schedule a home inspection as soon as possible. Most home inspectors will need at least a few days notice in order to schedule an inspection, and availability of appointments may depends upon whether they are an individual inspector or have a whole team of home inspectors like we do here at Semper Fi.
The timing may also depend upon whether or not they have availability for appointments on the day you need, which is why we do also have availability for weekend appointments at Semper Fi. Appointments do tend to fill up quickly, which is another reason why you will want to schedule as quickly as you can after your initial contract has been accepted.
You will want to make sure that you schedule your home inspection quickly enough that you can have it completed, receive the report back, and have time to review the findings before your option period is over. This will allow you time to negotiate repairs, or decide if the repairs required are so extensive that you do not want to continue with the transaction.
Is There Anything I Can Do to Speed Up the Process?
If you are a home buyer, the best thing you can do is schedule your inspection as quickly as possible after you have started the contract process, so that you are leaving yourself the most flexibility for time to not only have the inspection completed, but also to review the end report and have discussions with your real estate agent about what repairs you may want to negotiate – before your option period is done.
There are a few things you can do to help things move along more quickly if you are the seller. First, make sure all utilities are turned on so the inspector can access them easily. Second, clear away any clutter that might impede the inspector’s access to certain areas of the home. Finally, be available to answer any questions the inspector may have.
How Quickly Will I Receive My Home Inspection Report?
If you’re wondering how quickly you’ll receive your home inspection report, the answer depends on the company you hire. At Semper Fi Home Inspections, we provide your home inspection report the same day, and it includes photos and videos, plus a thorough overview of all of the systems in the home.
What if I Need a Re-Inspection?
Sometimes you will want a re-inspection. This is usually when there have been some items from the initial inspection that you have negotiated with the seller to repair before closing – called a Repair Verification Inspection. In this case, you will want a re-inspection to make sure that those repairs have been completed properly. These inspections can often take less time, since there is usually not a need to inspect the entire property again – only the items that have been changed. Again, how long these inspections take depends upon how much needs to be re-inspected.
For commercial property inspections in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, including a thorough and informative home inspection report, learn more at
or request a quote for a commercial inspection at
682-351-2267