How Much Should You Pay For A Home Inspection

Q: We are in the process of buying our first home. There’s lots of other costs that I didn’t expect. Our realtor convinced us to get a home inspection. How much will that cost us? Mark, Clark, NJ

A: In my local real estate market, a standard home inspection typically costs between $300 and $500. However, the exact price for a home inspection will vary depending on the size of the home, the state, town or city the home is located in, and what specifically is being inspected. A standard home inspection normally will cover the basics, but a more comprehensive home inspection that includes a foundation inspection, for example, can be more expensive. Also, a more experienced home inspector may charge more for a home inspection than other home inspectors. The home inspector I have used the most over the years charges more than most of his competitors, but he does a much more comprehensive job and the extra cost is worth it in my view. Larger homes generally cost more to inspect than smaller homes. Multi-family homes tend to cost more money to inspect than single family homes and recently constructed home inspections sometimes cost less money than inspections for an existing home. Condominium unit inspections may cost less than single family home inspections. You should always ask a home inspector exactly what items they are inspecting for before you hire them. There are also inspection items that home inspectors may charge extra for including radon testing as well as testing for mold or termites. Thanks for your question, Mark.

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