A standard pre-purchase inspection covers a home’s major mechnical systems-electrical,
plumbing, heating, and cooling- and its construction from roof to foundation, exterior to interior.
Overall inspections do not cover soil, wells, septic systems, building code violations or
environmental hazards, such as lead.
If you are a buyer, include an inspection contingency in your purchase contract; it should
allow you up to two weeks to conduct an overall inspection plus any specialized inspections you
(or your lender) require. Most inspections cost several hundred dollars. Specialized inspections
usually involve an expert and can cost more. Remember, repairs or remedies are negotiable;
they also can derail a deal.
