How long does it take to do a home inspection?

Typically, home inspections take 2-3 hours. There are factors affecting the timeliness of the inspection; these are important to take into account before you start scheduling with a client. Otherwise, your inspection windows collide, leaving you late to/missing appointments and damaging your credibility. 

3 Things you HAVE to Consider When Scheduling an inspection

1. The condition of the property.

When you're scheduling a home inspection, you need to think about the property at hand.

How big is the property? 

Bigger houses have more property. More property means a longer inspection time, and a high likelihood you'll find something worth commenting on. While inspections generally don't take less than two hours, it's not uncommon for larger properties to take upwards of 5 hours to properly inspect. 

How many systems need to be inspected? 

Every system in the house (HVAC, electrical panels, kitchens etc.) needs to be inspected from top to bottom. More systems = more inspection time. Simple math. 

How old is the property?

In the home inspection business, you'll see old homes in disrepair. If a home hasn't been maintained during the aging process, it's going to affect the length of inspection. The more problems a home presents (specifically age-related problems), the longer it'll take to denote and discuss with the property owners. 

2. The home inspector's experience. 

Home inspection is a business like another: more experienced/licensed home inspectors know what to look for, and are almost always more efficient. Keeping your inspection moving and productive is important to client relation upkeep, but never rush through an inspection. Your best resume is a good track record. To keep your repeat business and realtor reputation up, you need to present honest, thorough reports, no matter the timeframe. 

3. The Weather.

Keep in mind that home inspectors cover both the interior and exterior of a house. AKA, you'll be on the roof. If it's raining or snowing, you're going to be slowed down—and you should be slowed down. If you rush an exterior inspection and injure yourself, your home inspection license is no use to anyone. Keep an eye on forecasts in the days leading up to an inspection, and plan accordingly. 

For more information on being a home inspector, contact ATI today.