Again, this is a determination that must be made by each individual buyer. If a buyer has a specific issue or concern, the inspection may be limited to that concern. Typical examples of these are a well inspection, septic inspection, radon testing, furnace inspection, roof inspection, chimney/fireplace inspection, termite/pest inspection or environmental inspection. If the buyer is concerned about the general condition of the property or is interested in a professional evaluation of the entire property, a more general property inspection is required (which may or may not include some of the specific types of inspections referred to above). The cost of inspections vary widely and will depend both on the extent of the inspection and the experience and qualifications of the inspector. New York State has licensing requirements for home inspections. It is extremely important to determine an inspector’s credentials and the intended extent of the inspection before you hire him/her. Your attorney and/or real estate agent may have had experience in working with various inspectors and may be able to assist you in this regard.
