What to Expect when you are Inspecting
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What should you expect when you are inspection a house, namely the house you are buying? Here are some home inspection basics for the Portland Metro Area. Click here for a timeline of the home buying process.
Full home inspection: This inspection will last 2-4 hours, depending on the size of the house. The inspector will examine all of the systems of the home from roof to basement, furnace to dishwasher. There will be a long list of items that could be repaired and maybe a few things that need to be fixed prior to purchase. Ranges $400-$800, based on size and location of the home.
Radon and Sewer Scope: Both are very common in the Portland Metro area, and for old and new houses! Radon is a naturally occurring gas that is a leading cause of lung cancer. If it is found at the home mitigation ranges from $1500-$2500. Sewer scopes check the sewer line from the house to the city main line in the street. Sewer repairs can be thousands of dollars so this inspection is highly recommended, even at brand new houses!
Asbestos, Lead Based Paint, Underground Fuel Tanks: Older homes can have a lot of materials that we no longer use, such as asbestos. These tests are recommended based on the age of the property, condition (old house but gutted and rebuilt a few years ago probably doesn’t have lead based paint), and location. An underground fuel storage tank could hold heating fuel for an in use oil furnace, or be abandoned with fuel, or hopefully decommissioned properly and recorded with DEQ.
Well and Septic System- Rural properties with one or both of these systems have specific requirements and buyer and seller split these costs. It’s a bigger initial investment into the property, but then you don’t have monthly water and sewer bills!
Negotiations and Repairs- De[ending on the price and market, you may negotiate repairs, credits, or a price change. Everything is negotiable, but know the market before you expect a long list of repairs to be done by the seller!