Winter Garden Home Buyer's Inspection Checklist

Before the inspection

• Confirm your inspection deadlineYour purchase contract sets the dates that apply to your transaction. Check it, and ask your Realtor if anything is unclear.
• Schedule the inspection as early as practicalBooking early leaves room to read the report, ask questions and arrange any follow-up evaluations.
• Confirm exactly what the inspection includesAsk the inspection company for its inspection agreement, the scope of the general inspection and a sample report.
• Ask whether additional inspections or reports may be appropriateSome homes and some insurance situations call for extra reports. The inspection company can tell you what it offers.
• Make sure utilities will be onPower, water and gas generally need to be on for systems and appliances to be operated and evaluated.
• Ask whether you should attendPolicies differ by company. Ask when to arrive and whether you can join for the summary.
• Write down concerns you've already noticedStains on a ceiling, a door that sticks, a smell in a closet — give the inspector the list up front.
• Confirm the price and payment termsThe inspection company sets its own pricing and payment process. Confirm both before the visit.

What will the inspector look at?

A general home inspection usually focuses on visible and accessible components of the home's major systems, along the lines of:

• Roof
• Exterior
• Foundation and visible structure
• Attic and insulation where accessible
• Electrical system
• Plumbing system
• HVAC
• Water heater
• Interior walls and ceilings
• Doors and windows
• Built-in appliances where applicable
• Drainage and grading where visible

Scope varies by inspector, by property and by the inspection standards that apply, so not every item is examined on every inspection. Ask the inspection company what its inspection covers.

Florida-specific things to think about

None of this means every Winter Garden home has these issues — they're simply the topics that come up most often here.

Should I attend the home inspection?

Ask the inspection company. Policies differ, and some prefer buyers to arrive toward the end rather than at the start.

If attending is permitted, being there for the summary portion can help you understand which findings are significant and ask questions while you're standing in front of them. Keep clear of the inspector's work while the inspection is underway.

When you receive the report

• Read the entire reportNot only the summary — the body often carries the useful detail.
• Identify major safety or system concernsThose are usually where your attention belongs first.
• Separate significant issues from routine maintenanceBoth appear in the same document.
• Look at the photos and inspector commentsThey explain what the wording actually refers to.
• Ask the inspector about anything unclearMost will walk you through findings after delivery.
• Discuss contractual options with your RealtorRights, deadlines and negotiation are for your real-estate professional or other appropriate advisor — not for this page.
• Obtain specialist estimates when appropriateA roofer, electrician or HVAC contractor can scope and price the work.
• Keep the reportIt doubles as a maintenance reference after you move in.

This page doesn't offer legal advice and doesn't suggest which repairs to request. Contractual rights, deadlines and negotiations are conversations for your real-estate professional or another appropriate advisor.

A red flag doesn't always mean disaster

Inspection reports can look alarming, largely because inspectors document a great many observations. A long report doesn't necessarily mean the house is a bad one. It helps to sort findings into rough buckets:

The inspector who wrote the report is the right person to explain what any individual finding means for that home.

Quick printable checklist

Need to find a local inspection company?

WG Inspect helps connect home buyers with independent local inspection companies serving Winter Garden and surrounding west Orange County. Tell us about the property and the inspection services you're looking for — the inspection company can confirm availability, scope, exact pricing and scheduling directly with you.

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