Quick answer: A home inspection is your chance to learn the true condition of a Spokane home before you're locked in. Hire a licensed inspector, be there for the walk-through, and consider add-ons like a sewer scope and radon test, especially for older homes. Then decide what to ask the seller to fix, credit or reduce in price.
After your offer is accepted, you'll usually have a set number of days to complete your inspection. A licensed home inspector spends a few hours going through the roof, structure, plumbing, electrical, heating, insulation and more. You'll get a written report, usually with photos, within a day or two.
I always encourage buyers to attend at least the end of the inspection. Hearing the inspector explain what matters, and what doesn't, is worth more than the report itself.
Every inspection holds a surprise. You never really know a home's condition until you lift the lid. I recently helped a couple buying with a VA loan through an inspection that turned up mold that needed treatment, radon that needed mitigation and electrical issues that needed to be fixed. The bathroom also needed new subfloor, so the buyers ended up with new subfloor and LVP flooring. None of this was obvious on our walkthrough, but the inspection caught it.
The inspectors I recommend all use FLIR thermal cameras, and we do sewer scopes and radon testing, so you can see inside the walls and pipes as much as possible. No house is perfect, not even new construction, but a thorough inspection means you know as much as you can about what you're buying before you move in, not after.
When something comes up, I follow it down until we have real answers, whether that means calling the seller's side, the county or a specialist.
"She's knowledgeable about the purchase process and also helped us a ton with getting the right inspections and negotiating the updates with the seller's agent."
Amanda B., Redfin review
Every inspection report has a long list. That's normal, even for great homes. I help buyers sort it into three groups:
From there, you can ask the seller to make repairs, give you a credit at closing, lower the price, or, if your contract allows and the issues are serious, walk away.
Don't skip the inspection to make your offer look stronger. There are better ways to compete. And don't panic at a long report. The goal isn't a perfect house. It's knowing exactly what you're buying.
It isn't required, but it's strongly recommended. It's the best protection you have against expensive surprises.
For older homes especially, yes. Sewer line repairs can be costly, and a scope is a small price to find out.
Radon is common in the area. A test during your inspection period tells you if mitigation is needed.
If your contract includes an inspection contingency and you act within its deadline, you typically can. Your agent will walk you through your options.
If you're thinking about buying in Spokane, I'm happy to walk you through what to expect from the inspection and the rest of the process before you start.
Call or text Chelsea: 509.565.1581
Email: chelsea@mcfarlandprey.com
Office: 1402 S Grand Blvd, Suite 201, Spokane, WA 99203
Sign in with your email address
You’re being redirected to the page with listing data.