In discussions with novice and experienced inspectors, the same things come up again and again. Listed below are ten things you need to keep in mind as the inspection is conducted.1. Have realistic expectations concerning the home. read more limited knowledge of aging in older homes can make stress in purchasers, who might expect a greater degree of perfection than would typically be possible.Everyone knows that there is a difference between a 100 year old house and a newer home. Older houses perform differently, and were built to different standards. Older homes age differently predicated on era of construction.A perfect example of this is the basement that has been originally built of stone, then filled with mortar and parged to produce a more water-resistant area. Although it still leaks, that is the average 100 year old basement, which may not be considered acceptable in a 20 year old home. Or consider an older septic bed or weeping tile system is more susceptible to problems when compared to a newer one.Even though there are norms for aging in homes that make very good general guidelines, each house has its unique personality that you should understand and respect.2. Keep your emotions in balance.You intend to avoid feeling roller coaster highs and lows when major expense items are identified by the inspector. Maintaining your emotions in check allows you to absorb more information and to avoid getting overwhelmed by "all of the little things".As a purchaser, you must remember that your feelings on the building aren't highly relevant to the inspector's actual report. The inspector must report on every defect he finds, but the inspector also needs to put things into context for you.Of course, a good inspector will not over-express his personal feelings and opinions in regards to a house, and what should be done with the house. The inspector shouldn't lose sight of what the homebuyer may be thinking or feeling to be able to help his client make the best assessment. This enables the inspector to explain the things that need extra clarification.3. There is absolutely no such thing as a defect-free home.A brand new structure could have some items looking for correction, and probably the most immaculately kept home will also have some issues that could use some improvement. There is absolutely no home ever inspected that required no ink on the inspection report.The inspector is wanting to educate you on each of the little things that need to be done, and he also offers the overall goal of helping you identify major expense items. Although it may seem just like the inspector is picking on your purchase decision, he is really just trying to pack just as much information as he is able to into the limited time frame that he must spend with you. Understand that you will need to keep things in context.Inspectors want to give their clients lots of useful and relevant info on the house, but sometimes, even when there aren't any major issues, it is possible that some inspectors may go overboard by individually describing all of the little things. It could only be a window screen here, and a door knob over there, but after a long descriptive analysis of several details, you might arrive at the final outcome that "My God! There are a great number of things wrong with this particular house!"A good inspector will not waste everyone's time and emotional capacity discussing every doorknob and screen in the house. You should be told verbally, and on paper, there are "one or more" or "some" or "several" minor repairs or improvements required on doorknobs or window screens, or whatever.4. You need to understand the most crucial items now.It is a good notion to differentiate between everything you what is critical to know now, and everything you can clarify once you move in.For instance, in the inspector's efforts to ensure that you successfully accomplish a maintenance activity on your own new home, he might tell you how easy it really is and possibly explain how to do it. Remember that he is telling you for information purposes, and that you'll need additional guidance or instruction when actually doing it for yourself.5. The inspection procedure may be the same every time.The inspector follows a systematic approach to examining and reporting on items, so he will lead you through the home and the way you things in a particular order. This consistency of approach may be the method that he uses to cover all of the countless items which he must examine.If you consistently ask questions about items that the inspector has not yet had to be able to discuss, then you will throw him off and he might forget to explain something of note.This is not meant to dissuade you from asking pertinent questions to greatly help clarify things in your thoughts. In case you are wondering "What on earth is he talking about now?" then you need to ask the inspector to explain. When you can telephone your inspector at any time, you have an ideal possibility to share his time now.For example, if he is discussing basement dampness and you ask about the electrical system, he should redirect your focus on the topic at hand, and then discuss the electrical when the time comes.6. Pay attention.This sounds obvious, but every inspector has encountered a period when they have given their clients a large explanation about why something should be done, or not done, only to find out later that they completely missed (or misinterpreted) a key point. In case a homebuyer isn't listening, the message simply will not get through.The inspection can be an important time, designed to inform you and save profit the short and longterm. For anyone who is distracted by anything (children, relatives, friends, etc), you might not get some important information. Do not consider the inspection a good opportunity to show the home to important people that you experienced.If there are too many people saying way too many things all at one time, don't be shy to politely ask for some space to consult with your inspector. The inspector could also redirect your focus on the business accessible.7. The inspector is really a generalist, not just a specialist.The inspector knows how to diagnose problems, but the smart inspector will not offer solutions if he could be not completely conversant in the problem accessible. He should show you to consult a specialist if the matter involves a more thorough analysis.However, all inspectors have a specialty. If he is a licensed electrician, you then will get more info rmation on electrical issues than if he is an engineer.8. The inspection may be the only thing the inspector is aware of.A lot of the issues involving a house purchase have nothing in connection with the inspection. Unless he is being paid to pump a septic tank or test a well, you're probably just a little off-track talking about it. In the event that you ask where the boundary lines are or what the home value is, you have to be told by the inspector that he doesn't know. These discussions won't accomplish anything right now, and it's something you'd be better off discussing with your agent or lawyer.Take into account the big picture, remember that buying a house is really a big project, and the inspector is paid to be engaged in one section of it.9. Have fun.It isn't each day that you get to buy a home. Enjoy the process as best since you can. Lighten up. There is a large amount of work and angst involved in home inspections and home buying, and adding stress will need away from your effectiveness in understanding the inspection and making decisions.10. Follow up.If your inspector directs you to follow up on problems with another specialist, be it for termites, wood stoves, insurance or other issues, it really is incumbent upon one to do so. This is simply not an incident of the inspector passing the buck, but an incident of making you alert to issues that require further investigation.There are also likely to be areas which are disclaimed due to restricted access. Focus on these as soon as you can to help you find out if anything was hidden from view.If you are told to do some maintenance and fail to do so, there could be negative consequences. As an example, failing woefully to caulk the bathtub or re-grout the tiles you could end up a simple case of rot, or plaster could fall with harm to furnishings or personal injury. The inspector might not warn you of most possible consequences, because he expects that you will do your homework with respect to repairs or maintenance.References:OAHI's KRMG Educational Series, Part 5Frank Gruszewski has been involved with construction since 1983, and has renovated century homes, new homes and everything among. He started his home inspection company in 1995, quickly became a Registered Home Inspector (RHI) with OAHI and today has multiple inspectors working for his clients. He has a qualification in computer science, is really a firefighter, and is married to a wonderful woman. Four children keep him on his toes. Visit his website at http://www.torontohomeinspections.com