Why Are Home Inspections So Expensive?

Home inspections are a very important part of the home buying process. But why are home inspections expensive you ask? While we believe our fees are reasonable and in line with the market, this question is very highly searched on Google.

Our home inspections range from $315 to $1000 based on the size of the home, which extra services you order (i.e. radon testing and sewer scopes), and the age of the property.

And while this expense looks like a big number, there are a lot of factors that go into a home inspection that make it more than worth your investment.

First, let’s talk about the cost of a real estate transaction in general.

The Cost of Buying a Home

Buying a home is a big deal and a multi-step process. One of the first steps you take as a future homeowner is to figure out how much home you can afford.

This is typically done by talking to a lender or pulling up a mortgage calculator online. (Assuming you are financing.)

This gives you an idea of your loan terms, but you still need to consider the cost of the transaction itself.

I’m talking about the fixed costs, or closing costs, that come up when you go under contract. These include loan fees, titles fees, appraisal fees, mortgage insurance fees, pre-paid taxes, and insurance, and yes, your home inspection.

While all of these fees will likely add up to thousands of dollars, many of these are dealt with at the closing. Meaning you pay all of them as one large lump sum at the end of the process, or sometimes they are all wrapped into the loan so you don’t have to bring any money to the close!

Closing costs graphic found here: https://www.credible.com/blog/mortgages/no-closing-cost-mortgage/

While some of the fees can be shopped for, like title fees for example, most of these fees are handled and set by your lender. You can shop for a better price at different lenders, but most of the fees are similar between banks.

However, when it comes to home inspections, this is maybe the single item that a typical homeowner has to pay for out of pocket before the closing.

This is where we see the pain point. If you are a buyer on a budget and the home inspection is the only fee you have to pay for out of pocket, then the price tag of an inspection can see high.

So, even though a home inspection is one of the lowest fees on the list, it may seem like a big number when you go to schedule your inspection which may have you asking, “Why are home inspections so expensive?”

This is a simple comparison and regardless of what the fees are in a transaction, it is always best to save as much as possible. This is why we try to provide the most value at our inspections.

Looking for a home inspection in the Colorado area from a top-rated and fair-priced home inspection company? Take a look at our inspection services.

The Value of a Home Inspection

The value of a home inspection is in the unknowns: The unknown issues that can be found within a home by a trained professional.

While a home inspection is a negotiation tool during a transaction, it is also a knowledge base for you as a new homeowner that gives you a good baseline of the property’s condition.

While this is helpful, the real value is in the money saved. The last thing you want to be stuck with is a huge unforeseen bill right when you move into your new home.

Big-ticket items like the roof, foundation, mechanical systems, and sewer line can all be evaluated at the inspection and problems can be negotiated into the contract which has the potential to save you thousands of dollars.

While these are issues are less common than others, when they are found, it creates a lot of value for the buyer. Far greater than the cost of the home inspection itself.

Although we would prefer the house be in perfect condition and our report is short for the buyer’s sake, when issues do come up, you will be very glad you ordered an inspection.

Even smaller items that are successfully negotiated into the sale can end up covering the cost of the inspection. You can read our full case study on whether a home inspection was worth it based on real world data.

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So why are home inspections so expensive? The real answer is, maybe they are a small price to pay for something that may pay for itself plus some, or the peace of the mind knowing this huge purchase is a good decision.