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Welcome to our blog!
We want you to be an informed homebuyer, and each blog post is a question that we have answered for our friends and customers over the years. Hope they help you make a good choice for your next home.

  1. Bullet Well Water Testing - This may be required for rural properties with a well providing water service to the home. Some banks just require a bacteria (e coli) test, but VA loan water tests have to also include lead, nitrates and ph. If the water test lab determines that there is a bacteria contamination in the water sample, the well will have to be sanitized and then tested again.

  2. Bullet Mobile Home Tie-Down Inspection - Most loans for mobile homes require this inspection report, and it must be certified by a Florida licensed professional engineer.

  3. Bullet Four Point inspection - This report will not be required by the lender but, since having insurance on the property at time of closing is a lender requirement, and insurance companies often require one for homes that are 40-years and older, you may need to submit this report to your insurer. The “four points” are roof, electrical, plumbing, and HVAC systems, and the insurer wants confirmation they are all in good condition.

  4. Bullet Roof Inspection - This is another report that will not be required by the lender, but may be necessary to secure the insurance necessary to close on the loan for homes that are over 15-years old. It is a simple one-page report stating the condition and additional serviceable lifespan of the roof, with a couple of photos attached.

  5. Bullet Wind Mitigation Inspection - Yet another inspection that is not needed by the lender, but many homeowner insurance companies now require it in order to bind a policy. Formerly it was an optional report. A wind mitigation inspection report evaluates the hurricane-resistant features of a home and allows discounts on the windstorm portion of your policy for storm-resistant construction.

    The loan underwriter may also request special reports for a unique situation, such as an engineer’s report for a home that has recently had foundation repairs. If your loan is like most, your loan officer will call you two-thirds through the process and say “we just need you to submit a couple of more things,” one of which may be an additional specialized inspection report.

While we hope you find this series of articles about home inspection helpful, they should not be considered an alternative to an actual home inspection by a local inspector. Also, construction standards vary in different parts of the country and it is possible that important issues related to your area may not be covered here.
© McGarry and Madsen Inspection

More Blog Posts on Similar Subjects:

  1. How can I make sure I don’t get screwed on my home inspection?

  2. Should a home inspection scare you?

  3. What is the difference between an appraisal and a home inspection?

  4. Are you licensed and insured?

  5. We looked at the house carefully, and it seems alright. Do we really need a home inspection?

  6. Is a home inspection required?

  7. Should I be there for the inspection?

  8. What tools do you use for a home inspection?

  9. Is it common for an insurance company to require an inspection?

  10. The seller has to fix everything you find wrong with the house, right?

  11. Is it still possible to do an inspection if there’s no electricity or water?

  12. What’s the difference between a roof inspection and a roofing estimate?

  13. Should I hire an engineer to inspect the house?

  14. Do inspectors go on the roof? Do they get in the attic?

  15. What should I look for when buying a former rental house?

  16. What happens at a home inspection?

  17. Does the home inspector also check for termites?

  18. What different types of specialized inspections can I get?

  19. What are the questions a home inspector won’t answer?

  20. What is the difference between a building inspector and a home inspector?

  21. What is the difference between a home inspection and a final walkthrough inspection?

  22. Should the seller be at the home inspection?

  23. What is the average lifespan of a house?

  24. Should I use my realtor’s home inspector or choose one myself?

  25. Should I use a contractor or a home inspector to inspect a house I’m buying?

  26. Should I get a home inspection before signing a contract to buy the house?

  27. Can a home inspector do repairs to a house after doing the inspection?

  28. What is a “continuous load path”?

  29. When did the first Florida Building Code (FBC) begin and become effective?

  30. Should I only hire an inspector that is a member of a national association like ASHi, InterNACHI, or NAHI?

  31. What is a “cosmetic” defect in a home inspection?

  32. Where are the funny home inspection pictures?

  33. Should I follow the inspector around during the inspection?

  34. Why do realtors call some home inspectors “deal killers”?

  35. How can I reduce the risk of an expensive surprise when buying a house sight unseen?

  36. Does my home have to be inspected to get insurance?

  37. Who should pay for the home inspection?

  38. Can you do a home inspection in the rain?

  39. What are the most Frequently Asked Question (FAQ) at a home inspection?

  40. How can I make sure my house doesn’t fail the home inspection?

  41. Does a home inspector give cost estimates for repairs?

  42. Are there any minimum inspection standards that a Florida licensed home inspector must meet?