Home inspection guides
Start with the basics, then find the guide for your situation: buying, selling, financing with FHA, or inspecting a condo, an apartment building or a commercial property.
The basics
- How to choose a home inspectorCredentials, insurance, sample reports and the questions to ask before you hire a home inspector in California, where there is no state license.
- What is a home inspection?A plain explanation of what a home inspection is, what it covers, what it excludes, and how it differs from an appraisal, a code inspection and a warranty.
- How to read a home inspection reportA walkthrough of a typical home inspection report, the common rating categories, and how to sort findings into what matters now and what can wait.
- The inspection contingencyHow the inspection contingency works in a California purchase agreement, the deadlines that matter, and options when the report is bad.
- Negotiating repairs after an inspectionHow to turn an inspection report into a reasonable repair request, choose between repairs and credits, and avoid common mistakes.
By situation and property type
- Home inspections for buyersA step-by-step guide for California home buyers, from booking an inspector inside the contingency period to turning the report into a repair request.
- Getting ready for the buyer's inspectionHow sellers can prepare a house for the buyer's home inspection, fix what matters, and keep escrow on track.
- Pre-listing inspectionsWhy some sellers order their own inspection before listing, what it costs, and how it affects disclosure obligations in California.
- FHA loans and home inspectionsHow the FHA appraisal differs from a home inspection, which property conditions FHA lenders flag, and what HUD's minimum property standards cover.
- Commercial property inspectionsHow a commercial property condition assessment differs from a home inspection, what the ASTM E2018 standard covers, and how to scope one.
- Apartment and multifamily inspectionsHow to inspect a duplex, fourplex or apartment building before buying, including unit sampling, shared systems and California-specific requirements.
- Balcony and deck inspections (SB 721 and SB 326)California's balcony inspection laws for apartments and condominiums explained, including who can inspect, what is checked and how often.
- Vacant home checksWhat to watch for in a vacant, seasonal or bank-owned house, and how a periodic vacant home check keeps small problems from becoming big ones.
- New construction inspectionsWhy new homes still need independent inspections, the phase inspections worth ordering, and how to use the builder's one-year warranty.
- Condominium and townhome inspectionsWhat a condo inspection covers, what the HOA is responsible for, and which association documents matter more than the report.
- Manufactured and mobile home inspectionsHow inspections differ for manufactured homes, what HUD labels and data plates tell you, and the foundation and tie-down issues to watch.
Prefer a list you can tick off? Use the buyer's inspection checklist or the inspection cost estimator.