How Much Is a Home Inspection in 2024?

Home inspections are one of the most important things you can do when purchasing a new home. While not required, they can be a major asset to homebuyers. If there are potential problems, the home inspection should catch them. This could save you thousands of dollars.

Unfortunately, home inspections come with a price tag. According to HomeAdvisor.com, the average home inspection price in the United States is $343. The price can vary depending on several factors, such as where you live and the size of your home. However, you can cut down on the expense by contacting several inspectors and comparing their pricing.

Now that you’re probably wondering how much a home inspection will cost, let’s explore a little further.

Key Takeaways

• Home inspections can help you spot problems with a home before purchasing.
• The home inspection cost varies depending on the house size and location.
• Inspections are not required before purchasing a home, but they can help you save thousands of dollars.

Costs Vary By Location

Like most things, location is one of the biggest factors determining the cost of a home inspection. New York City will cost more than Rochester, and Denver will cost more than Colorado Springs.

You’ll also notice a difference in price if you live in a rural area instead of someplace urban. However, this isn’t as clearly defined. Typically, a house inspection will cost less if you live in a rural area, but this depends on whether an inspector is nearby. If the inspector has to drive a significant distance, there might be an extra cost, making it more expensive. Here’s a breakdown of the home inspection cost in several metropolitan areas.

Costs Vary By The Size of Your Home

The size of your home is also a major factor in the cost of a home inspection. The more square footage the inspector needs to examine, the higher the cost. Below is a table highlighting the cost by square footage, according to HomeAdvisor.com.

Specialized Inspection Costs

During a home inspection, the goal is for everything to come back looking good. Unfortunately, that’s not always the case. If certain home systems or areas are worrisome to the inspector, they may recommend having a specialist come out to check the home.

Special inspections cost extra. However, if your inspector is worried about asbestos or mold, having that peace of mind is important.

Here’s a breakdown of the average costs for some specialized inspections based on pricing from HomeAdvisor.

Home Inspections Are Usually Only Optional, But They Can Save You Big

Home inspections are typically not required, but that doesn't mean you should skip them. You might be able to spot some things on your own, but could you tell if there was old water damage growing mold behind the drywall? Could you tell if a foundation is starting to sink?

A home inspection to locate some of these problems could easily save you thousands of dollars. Here’s a closer look at the cost of a couple of common problems if they went undetected due to not having a home inspection.

• Termites: Pest inspections are usually optional except in two cases. First, the home appraiser can require one if he or she notices signs of pest intrusion. Second, VA home loans require pest inspections in almost every state. Typically, termite treatments cost anywhere from $237 to $995. However, the cost can fluctuate depending on how widespread the issue is. If the termites have caused significant damage to the framing, replacing floor joists and wall studs could cost $2,000 or more.
• Foundation: Foundation problems can be more frequent depending on where you live. For example, many homes in Colorado are built on expansive soil that can cause foundations to settle. Depending on the extent of the damage, the cost to fix a foundation can range from $2,200 to $7,948, with an average cost of $5,074.
• Asbestos: If your home was built before 1980, it might have asbestos. Asbestos is commonly found in shingles, insulation, ceiling tiles, and more. It can be extremely harmful to a person's health, so it’s important to remove it. Asbestos removal can cost anywhere from $1,192 to $3,253. However, a better way to estimate the cost is by square footage. The average cost, according to HomeAdvisor, is $150 per square foot.

Appraisals Aren't Inspections

An appraiser reviewing a home is often called an "appraisal inspection." But this isn't the same as a home inspection. The appraiser is only ensuring the home is worth the sales price and has functioning systems like drinkable water, electricity, and a roof without severe defects.

But an appraiser won't do much more than a visual check. You need a home inspection from a licensed home inspector to find less obvious issues. For example, the roof may be leaking around a bathroom vent far back in the attic, causing mold. But an appraiser will only do a quick peak into the attic space from the access and may not see the damage. These types of issues can be costly but go undetected by the appraiser.

Our Take: Get a Home Inspection

Even though getting a home inspection isn’t required when purchasing a new home, everyone should do it. Not only are you going to feel confident you’re purchasing a quality home, but you can avoid any costly issues that might pop up soon after moving in. Simply put, the home inspection cost is well worth the peace of mind.

If you’re unsure where to find a quality home inspector, start with your real estate agent. If they’ve been in the business for a while, they most likely know some of the good home inspectors in your area.

If you’re going to find an inspector on your own, you can use Angi.com or HomeAdvisor.com. Look through some of the reviews and narrow down a list to a few that you’d like to consider. From those, make sure they’re licensed with your state. It’s also a good sign if they’re members of either the National Association of Certified Home Inspectors (NACHI) or the National Association of Home Inspectors (NAHI).