1. When you are buying a re-sale home:

• Gives a home buyer an idea of the property conditions before close of sale.
• Helps the buyer identify items that require further investigation, repair or replacement. This gives the buyer one of several options:​
  • negotiate with the seller to have items of concern repaired
  • re-negotiate the price of the property
  • request an allowance at closing for needed repairs
  • for "as-is" purchases (foreclosures, bank owned properties, etc.) or properties that will be ‘flipped’, have a work-list of items to go through for repairs/renovations.

2. When you are buying a new home:

• Introduces an impartial party (not working for the builder) to identify construction defects and/or items of concern.
• Provides a thorough inspection of all components and systems in the new house. City building inspectors spend minutes inspecting one aspect of the house as it is being built. Home inspectors spend hours inspecting all aspects of the house.
• Gives the buyer some leverage to have needed repairs completed prior to moving in.

3. When you are getting ready to sell a home:

An inspection provides a detailed report on the conditions of all systems and a list of all items of concern or needing repair. Allows the seller, on their terms and schedule, to have items of concern or that need repair addressed prior to listing the house. This makes the listing and buyers home inspection process much less stressful and decreases the chances of ‘snags’ or ‘surprises’.