A home inspection in Eugene is a visual review of a home’s main systems and components, limited to the areas the inspector can see and reach. It gives you a snapshot of the home’s condition on the day of the inspection, so you can decide with real information before you close. Jeremy Moody of HomeCheck Inspection Service has been doing exactly that for Lane County buyers since 2001, and this guide explains what a home inspection includes, what it does not, and how to use the report.
What Does A Home Inspection In Eugene Include?
A home inspection includes the major systems you depend on every day, and the inspector looks for major defects and safety defects in each of them. That means the heating system, plumbing system, electrical system, siding, roof, attic, foundation, crawlspace and floor structure, among other parts of the house.
Does A Home Inspection Cover Everything In The House?
No. A whole house inspection covers the visibly accessible areas of the home, and it is meant to give a snapshot of condition on the day of the inspection, not a guarantee about the future. Anything hidden behind finished walls or under flooring is outside what an inspector can see.
That is not a weakness. It is how every honest home inspection works, and it is why the report matters as much as the walk-through. HomeCheck has completed nearly 7,500 inspections since 2001, and the clients who get the most from the process are the ones who understand its limits and read the whole report instead of only the summary.
What Is A Wood Destroying Organism Inspection, And Do You Need One In Lane County?
A wood destroying organism (WDO) inspection looks from the floor structure down for signs of fungi decay, termites, carpenter ants and wood boring beetles, and for conditions that are conducive to them. It is a separate, focused inspection that is often added to a whole-house inspection.
In a region with a long rainy season, moisture and wood go together, which is why many Lane County buyers ask for it. Jeremy holds Oregon Pest Control Association certification for wood destroying organism inspections, so the person who walks the house for the general inspection can also look at the structure from the floor down. T
Why Does It Matter That Your Home Inspector Is An Oregon Certified Home Inspector?
It matters because an Oregon Certified Home Inspector is not allowed to bid on or perform repairs on the homes they inspect. That rule means the report you receive is unbiased, since the inspector has nothing to gain from finding more work.
Jeremy is an Oregon Certified Home Inspector and an InterNACHI Certified Professional Inspector. InterNACHI publishes standards of practice and consumer information at nachi.org. If you later hire a contractor for repairs, you can look up a business with the Oregon Construction Contractors Board at oregon.gov/ccb. Keeping the inspection and the repair work with different people is the point of the rule.
Is A Home Inspection Like A Checkup With Your Doctor?
Yes, it works much the same way. Your general practitioner checks your overall health and, when something needs a closer look, refers you to a specialist. A home inspector does the same for a house: points out defects and recommends further evaluation by a roofer, electrician, plumber or other specialist where needed.
Not every finding is a crisis, just as not every checkup ends in a procedure. Some defects are simply things to be aware of and keep an eye on. Some are things you may be able to fix yourself. And some call for a professional opinion and a bid from a specialist, so you can decide whether the house is still worth the price you offered before you knew about the defects.
What Happens After The Inspection Finds Defects?
After the inspection, you get a written report, and you decide what to do with it. The goal of a home inspection is to help you make an informed decision about your purchase, whether that means asking for repairs, getting a specialist’s bid, or moving forward knowing what to watch.
Read the report in full, ask Jeremy about anything unclear, and share it with your agent if you are working with one. Because no home is perfect, the aim is not a house with zero findings. The aim is to know the major imperfections before you close and move in. Jeremy has personally renovated 11 homes, so when he explains a finding he can tell you what the fix usually involves, in plain language.
What Other Inspections Can You Add In Eugene And Springfield?
You can add a sewer scope, a radon test and a wood destroying organism inspection to a whole-house inspection, and HomeCheck also offers pre-listing, new construction, construction draw, relocation, manufactured home and 11th-month warranty inspections. Each answers a question the standard inspection cannot.
Frequently Asked Questions About Home Inspections in Eugene
What is a home inspection?
A home inspection is a visual review of a home’s main systems and components, limited to the visibly accessible areas. The inspector looks for major defects and safety defects and documents them in a written report.
Do I need a home inspection on a new house?
Yes. No home, not even a new one, is perfect. An inspection tells you about the major imperfections before you close and move in.
Can the home inspector fix the problems they find?
No. An Oregon Certified Home Inspector is not allowed to bid on or perform repairs on homes they inspect, which is why the report stays unbiased. You would ask a roofer, electrician, plumber or other specialist for a bid.
What does a wood destroying organism inspection look for?
It looks from the floor structure down for signs of fungi decay, termites, carpenter ants and wood boring beetles, plus conditions that are conducive to them.
Should I be at the home inspection?
Attending is a good idea. You can ask questions as the inspector goes and see for yourself which items are routine maintenance and which need a specialist.
Ready To Schedule A Home Inspection In Eugene?
HomeCheck Inspection Service has served Lane County since 2001. Jeremy Moody brings nearly 7,500 inspections over 25 years, InterNACHI Certified Professional Inspector #NACHI05051998, Oregon Certified Home Inspector OCHI #504, Oregon Pest Control Association #165737, and an Oregon residential general contractor background (CCB #200742) with 10 years in construction. Call or schedule online: call (541) 914-0559 or schedule online at hchomeinspections.com.