If you didn't know what he was doing walking around the house, tapping and poking on the siding and the foundation, walking through the house turning things on and off, or looking for evidence of damage, you might mistake him for a building contractor, an anthropologist, or some kind of investigator. As an inspector, he's a little bit of all of those. Hired by potential buyers, the home inspector is seen as the person who will give buyers an accurate gauge of exactly what they are buying.
Most firms say it can take three to four hours for an inspection.
And almost all of the inspectors were able to present a report at the end of the walkthrough, including any special concerns such as termites, water and moisture problems, or the condition of heating system. Older homes also come with the history that sellers usually are ready to talk about, says Monahon, a member of the American Society of Home Inspectors. Inspectors know how to look not only for trouble spots, but also for the evidence of former or future trouble. An inspector will go through an entire house, sometimes backtracking to make sure what he saw in one room lines up with what he discovers in another, and will walk around the outside of the building. Inspectors are also trained to tell the difference between what looks like a problem and what is potential trouble.