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How Much Does a Home Inspection Cost in California?

Home inspections are necessary and pretty much unavoidable, but they can end up being costly…especially if you’re not sure how much a home inspector can cost to inspect your home in California. Browse around on the internet, and you will likely get more confused! You’ll see that everyone has a different estimate of costs, making it more difficult to ascertain how much you should be paying.

There are many different factors to keep in mind that affect the cost, and adding in extras also may affect your quote. 

Here are some things to bear in mind when trying to understand how much a home inspection in California costs…

How much does a home inspection cost in California?

When trying to estimate a home inspection cost in California, here are the first few things that you need to think about:

  1. How large is your home? Many home inspection companies charge their rates based on a 2,000 square foot home. While not this the case for all home inspection companies, it is essential to remember that a bigger house will likely incur more charges.

  2. What is the relative age and condition of the house? Are you undergoing the inspection as a routine measure, or do you suspect damage and want to confirm?

  3. What kind of services does the company offer when it comes to home inspection in California, and what is your ultimate budget?

Think of these as the building blocks for developing a quote. These are the factors the home inspection company will be looking at, so having this level of information right off the bat ensures a more straightforward conversation when discussing how much a home inspection costs in California. 

What is included in a home inspection in California?

One of the things to bear in mind is that home inspection companies differ. While most offer a standard list of services, everyone’s approach is different. When you’re evaluating home inspection companies in California, you should know the basic services offered for a home inspection. 

This gives you something to compare against to confirm you are paying the right amount for the level of service being offered.

For example, do they cover major inspection components? This could (and should!) include: 

  • Exterior Home Components

  • Electrical Systems

  • Roof

  • Foundation – Interior and Exterior

  • Heating & Cooling Systems

  • Plumbing Systems

  • Attic

  • Basements/Crawl Space

That’s not an exhaustive list by any means. However, these are the general services that a home inspection company should be offering. 

The second thing to consider is experience. How professional is the team? What kind of work have they done in the past? You can get a sense of this in the initial calls for a quote, which can help you make a decision. Ideally, you want a team committed to providing a professional experience, which will help you mitigate the risks and costs around unplanned repairs. 

While it might be tempting to go for a cheaper option, weigh up the home inspection company’s relative experience and how long they have been in the business. Bear in mind that even if relatively less expensive, an inexperienced team may end up costing you more because they could not catch repairs and issues in time.

What is the average cost of home inspection in California?

It’s challenging to offer an average cost of home inspection in California because it ultimately depends on the house’s size and location. Those are usually the deciding factors in the quote, alongside its relative condition.

However, the note about professional teams bears some reinforcement here. Remember, when you’re evaluating quotes for home inspections in California, don’t just look at the dollar figure. Think about the team that will be carrying it out, their experience, the services they are offering, and what they include in the quote. That’s what matters, and it’s worth paying more if it’s a team you trust.

A home inspection is an integral part of protecting your real estate investment. You want it done by a trusted company with the knowledge and expertise to ensure your home inspection is met with confidence and an actionable plan! To learn more about vast experience conducting home inspections in California and how much that will cost, please contact us today for a free consultation!