1. Why do I need a home inspection? Having a professional, private home inspection is not required by law in Illinois. However, various independent estimates suggest that anywhere from 65% to 75% of homebuyers in the Northern Illinois/Chicago Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) hire a private real estate inspector during the home purchase process. As a first-time homebuyer, if you aren’t knowledgeable about residential construction, consider a professional home inspection as an opportunity to learn about any functional issues that may be present in the home you’re thinking about buying. A professional home inspection will also provide additional benefits, including specific maintenance recommendations, and valuable information about ongoing and future property upkeep strategies that can help you maximize the resale value of your home, when the time comes to re-sell it.

2. Doesn’t our appraisal cover everything we need to know about the condition of the home? Your appraisal is an important part of your home-buying and financing process, but it is not the same as a professional inspection. The appraisal primarily serves your lender, and is based-on the marketability of the home. Primary factors in marketability might include the general appearance of the neighborhood, comparison of the home to other similar homes that have sold in the area, particular features and relative size of the home, etc. A professional home inspection, by contrast, focuses specifically on the condition of all the major systems and components of the home being considered for purchase. The home inspection assists the home-buyer in separating minor from major repair, safety and maintenance issues, and helps to maximize the home-buyer’s knowledge and comfort level with respect to their imminent home-buying decision.

3. When should I get a professional home inspection? The timing of your professional home inspection is normally dictated-by the terms of the Sales Contract that you sign, when you are interested-enough in purchasing a particular home to make a purchase offer. Your attorney or professional Realtor® should insure that an Inspection Contingency Clause is present in your Sales Contract, if you wish to have a home inspection. Often, you will have five (5) to ten (10) working days to schedule and have a home inspection completed, after the home seller accepts your purchase offer. Quality home-inspection firms will normally be able to schedule and complete your home inspection within 48-72 hours of your initial request.

4. What does the inspection cover? In Illinois, all home inspections must meet the Illinois State Standard of Practice. In short, the inspector will typically observe, inspect and report on the type(s) and condition(s) of the Structure, Exterior, Roofing, Plumbing, Electrical, Heating, Air Conditioning, Interior, Insulation & Ventilation, and Fireplace/Solid Fuel-Burning Appliance home systems. Home Inspectors and inspection firms can exceed the Illinois Standard of Practice, but not all will do so. For those Home Inspectors and firms who do exceed the Illinois Standard of Practice, they’ll typically do so in accordance with the rules and Standards of Practice of a professional home inspection organization to which they may belong. There are a number of these organizations, including the National Association of Certified Home Inspectors (NACHI), the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI), and the National Association of Home Inspectors (NAHI). All of these organizations maintain a nationwide (U.S.) membership, all require ongoing professional education which typically exceeds the Illinois State Standard, and all enforce a rigid Code of Ethics for their memberships, helping to boost consumer confidence in the professional conduct and performance of their members.

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