What Every Buyer Should Know Before a Home Inspection

By John Salkowski

The JRS Realty Group, founded by high-producing Real Estate Broker & Author John Salkowski was built on the notion that the secret to achieving incredible goals and getting true results is to dominate real estate with a team approach.

I just wrapped up a home inspection with one of my buyers, and this one was special. He’s a friend of mine from high school; he and his wife were high school sweethearts and are still happily married after all these years. It’s their daughter buying the property. So I had my fatherly protection cap on for the whole transaction.

Walking out of that inspection got me thinking about how much smoother this part of the process goes when a buyer knows how to use it, so here’s exactly what I recommend.

Always get an inspection when you can. This is the first and most important one. Whenever it’s possible, have a home inspection done on the property. The only time you might have to consider waiving it is in a competing situation where it’s the difference between winning the home and losing it, and even then, there’s a smarter way to handle it than simply going in blind.

Neutral homebuying guidance makes the same point: in a hot market, you can often waive the contingency without waiving the inspection itself. And if you truly have to skip the formal inspection, bring someone with you during the showing who knows construction, whether that’s a home inspector, a contractor, or even a handy family member you trust to spot trouble. This matters whether you’re buying your first home or making a move up.

Meet the inspector before they start. When you do have an inspection, take a few minutes to talk with the inspector before they head inside. Ask about their process and what they’ll be looking at, so you understand how the next couple of hours will go. It’s a small step that makes the whole inspection easier to follow and far more useful to you as the buyer.

Follow along to learn the house. Once things are underway, I recommend following the inspector around the property so you can actually learn the home: where the electrical panel is, the hot water tank, the water main shut-off, and the HVAC system. Before you do, ask the inspector if they’re comfortable with you tagging along, because some prefer quiet while they work, and others are happy to walk you through everything like a teacher.

Either way, asking first sets the right tone, and when they say yes, you’ll come away knowing your future home far better than most buyers ever do. This kind of hands-on familiarity is just as valuable in a new-construction purchase as it is with an older resale.

Review the findings before you leave. At the end of the inspection, stand outside with the inspector and go over the bullet points together, especially anything they flagged as faulty or as a safety issue. You’ll still get the full written report by email afterward, but hearing the key items in person, while you can ask questions, helps everything land.

From there, you work with your real estate professional on a response to the seller’s agent, whether that means requesting repairs, asking for a credit, or requesting a one-year home warranty, whatever fits your situation best. Having someone in your corner who knows how to guide buyers through that negotiation is where a lot of the value comes from.

Those are my recommendations for getting the most out of a home inspection, and I hope they help you walk into yours feeling prepared. Buying a home is one of the biggest decisions you’ll ever make, and having the right guidance through every step of it makes all the difference. If you have questions or you’re getting ready to buy, I’d be glad to help.

Give me a call or text at (610) 709-5147, or email me at john@jrsrealtygroup.com. You can learn more at thejrsrealtygroup.com. I’d love to help you through your next move.