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You’re under contract and just booked your home inspection!
Now what?
Make sure you’re prepared for inspection day by following these tips.
Quick Facts:
- The national average cost of a home inspection is $459.
- The typical cost range for home inspections is $350-$600.
- The average cost of a home inspection has gone down, from $468 in 2021 to $459 in 2022.
Buying a home is a time of heightened emotion.
You’re spending hard-earned money on a down payment and a future of mortgage payments. Learning to protect that large obligation is an overlooked aspect of the home-buying process.
A home inspection is a smart way to ensure you’re aware of the potential problems that could arise. A common question is how much the average home inspection costs.
How much does a home inspection cost?
Our data has been aggregated from our database and uses over 100,000 home inspections in determining average cost.
Across over 100,000 home inspections in the Spectora network in 2022, our data shows the average home inspection to cost $459. However, what you pay for a home inspection will depend on:
- Size and square footage of the home
- Age of the home
- Location (region and travel time for the inspector)
- How hot or cold your local real estate market is
- How many inspectors are in your local area and how busy they are
- Additional services, such as mold inspections or radon testing
Spectora's data aligns with other sources in the home inspection space report. The US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) gives a typical price range of $300-$500, and cautions that “cost does not necessarily reflect quality”. Fixr, a popular home services site, got their home inspection cost range of $175-$600 from IndependentInspectors.org.
what's included in a home inspection?
You probably should know what’s included in the price.
There are a couple of significant home inspection associations that dictate what a home inspection covers, but in general, you can expect to have the following areas and systems inspected:
- Roof
- Exterior/Grounds
- Basement/Foundation
- Heating and Cooling sources
- Plumbing
- Electrical
- Fireplace
- Attic, Insulation, and Ventilation
- Doors, Windows & Interior
Preparing for a home inspection
We recommend that you do your research.
Take a look at the website and reviews of the inspector that your agent recommended.
Get a quote from them and a couple of others. And don’t shop on the cost or price alone.
Then go online and do a search for home inspectors in your local area. Who has great reviews? Who has a professional online presence?
Most decent home inspectors are well worth the cost. Whether it gives you leverage to ask the seller to cover more fixes or sets your expectations for what to budget for, getting a quality home inspection is one of the smartest investments you can make in your new home.
Frequently asked questions
Does the buyer pay for the home inspection?
Yes, in most cases the buyer pays for the home inspection. While homebuyers are not legally obligated to get a home inspection, it's strongly recommended so buyers are aware of the costs and repairs they can inspect upon purchasing.
Does the seller pay for the repairs after the inspection?
This depends on a number of factors like the contract terms, if it’s a seller’s or buyer’s market, the types of repairs or if the seller is willing to make repairs vs. giving the buyer credits towards the price of the home.
Do I need to get a home inspection?
Although home buyers are usually not required to get a home inspection, it's highly recommended. Buying a home without getting it professionally inspected can leave the buyer with unexpected costly repairs.
