Cost of a home inspection in India: Everything that you should know

Introduction

Purchasing a property includes a huge monetary liability, especially when you are investing in a property that has a posh location, excellent architecture, and outstanding amenities. Besides, other financial necessities are also there, like taxes, registration fees, broker charges, and many more. So, when you need to bear all these costs, having an additional expense in the form of a home inspection might seem to be a burden to you. Well, while this might seem to be true to many readers, avoiding home inspection in India might lead to severe consequences later on, including monetary losses, poor investments, and many more. 

On top of this, most people avoid this necessary step due to a detailed lack of knowledge about the cost of a home inspection in India. The moment they hear about the same, all they can think of is the humongous amount they would have to invest in the same. However, that’s not the truth because inspection costs are varied and often calculated based on the property valuation, inspection checklist, and other parameters. So, rather than blatantly denying it, it’s better to understand what is a home inspection in detail, its significance, and the best rates you can ask for the inspection in the Indian market. 

What is a home inspection?

Before focusing on deriving the cost of a home inspection in India, let’s know what it is. Whenever you buy a property, you will check its structure and stability superficially. Identifying the underlying damage or faults won’t be possible for you due to the lack of knowledge, the absence of a checklist, and other parameters. That’s where a home inspection comes into play! It is a process through which licensed professionals will run a physical or visual inspection of the property based on a prepared checklist. Several types of inspections can be conducted on a single property, each involving a specific aspect. For instance, general home inspection usually covers structural stability, conditions of doors and windows, ventilation system, and many more such basic aspects. Similarly, electrical inspection is concerned with checking the electrical wiring systems, conduits, outlets, appliance conditions, and so on. 

Factors affecting the cost of a home inspection in India

Since home inspection in India is necessary to determine structural stability and integrity and several other details related to safety and other parameters, learning about the factors affecting its cost is imperative. This way, you will be able to design an accurate budget and ensure your investments won’t impose a financial burden on your shoulders. 

1. Size of the property and the number of rooms: Higher the property size in terms of square meters, more will be the cost of a home inspection in India. 
2. Location of the property, like urban or rural areas: Inspecting properties in rural areas will be less costly than the ones located in urban and metropolitan regions. 
3. Type of property to be inspected, like villas, apartments, penthouses, and more: Smaller homes are cheaper for inspection when compared to residential properties like villas, larger apartments, duplex apartments, and so on. 
4. Age of the property based on the construction timeline: Older properties usually have more susceptibility to damages and structural instability, which is why their inspections will incur more costs than newly constructed properties. 
5. Depth of inspections like basic inspections or specific ones: If you have a strict budget, opting for a basic home inspection in India will prove to be cheaper than any specific detailed inspection. 
6. Inspector’s accreditations and certifications: If the chosen inspector has numerous certifications and is properly licensed, you may have to pay more but it is indeed worth the cost due to the higher credibility of the inspection reports. 
7. Scope of additional services included in the inspection program: If you opt for any additional services, like thermal imaging or energy audits of the property, the inspection costs will automatically increase. 

Average cost of a home inspection in India

The average cost of a home inspection in India is dependent on multifarious factors, which is why below we have provided a list of the rates based on property size and the inspection type chosen. 

For a basic house inspection, the costs will vary as:

• ₹5,000 to ₹8,000 for small-sized houses with carpet area less than 1000 square feet
• ₹8,000 to ₹12,000 for medium-sized houses having a carpet area ranging between 1000 square feet and 2000 square feet
• ₹12,000 to ₹20,000 for large-sized houses with carpet area exceeding 2000 square feet

If you opt for a comprehensive inspection routine that can cover detailed areas, the cost of a home inspection in India will vary as:

• ₹8,000 to ₹12,000 for small-sized houses with carpet area less than 1000 square feet
• ₹12,000 to ₹20,000 for medium-sized houses having a carpet area ranging between 1000 square feet and 2000 square feet
• ₹20,000 to ₹35,000 for large-sized houses with carpet area exceeding 2000 square feet

Breakdown of typical home inspection costs

Basic inspection

1. Exterior inspection for ₹1,000 to ₹2,000: Checks the structural integrity of walls, roofs, and floors along with detecting any visible signs of cracks, leakage, and signs of wear and tear
2. Interior inspection for ₹2,000 to ₹4,000: Covers the internal structures like walls, floors, windows, ceiling, doors, and other areas for damage signs along with the examination of the interior layout and spaciousness
3. Plumbing inspection for ₹1,000 to ₹2,500: Includes basic inspection of the water supply system, faucets, drinking water pipes, blockages, and other conditions
4. Electrical system inspection for ₹1,500 to ₹3,000: Ensuring compliance with energy utilization standards and assessing the electrical supply lines, conduits, outlets, and other arrangements
5. HVAC inspection for ₹1,000 to ₹2,500: Checks the ventilation system, duct conditions, air pressure, temperature regulation, and energy utilization of the HVAC system
6. Safety checks for ₹500 to ₹1,000: Checking the security and alarm features like smoke detectors, fire alarms and escapes, sprinkler systems, and others 

Comprehensive inspection

1. Structural inspection for ₹3,000 to ₹6,000: Assessment of the load bearing walls, floors, beams, and other parts for structural integrity and detailed examination of cracks, leakage holes, and wear and tear
2. Pest inspection for ₹1,500 to ₹3,000: Covers the infestation assessment by different pests like rodents, cockroaches, ants, termites, and others 
3. Energy efficiency checks for ₹2,000 to ₹5,000: Includes detailed inspection of electrical systems to verify energy efficiency and eco-friendliness based on usage along with the assessment of the house’s natural insulation system
4. Mold inspection for ₹2,000 to ₹4,000: Inspecting areas like attics and basements for potential signs of hidden mold infestation, the extent of damage to the structure due to moldy growth, and the root causes of such issues

How to choose the right home inspection service in India?

Finding the best home inspection service from countless options won’t be an easy task. So, to help you out in this, we have briefly described a couple of factors you need to consider. 

1. Always look for licensed and certified property inspectors so that you can leverage the credibility they offer. 
2. Check if they are experienced in conducting inspections of residential properties or not. 
3. Ask the inspection types they are trained in, like basic structural inspection, comprehensive pest and mold infestation testing, and other specialized services.
4. Check the reviews and testimonials from past clients to gain valuable insights about the home inspectors. 
5. Discuss about your special requirements and ensure the professional can cater to the same with ease. 

Is a home inspection worth the cost?

Indeed, home inspection in India is worth the cost because the reports will help you know the hidden damages caused to the structure and identify the potential hazards before investing in the same. Accordingly, you will be able to make a well-informed decision, whether it’s by planning for repairs once you move in or negotiating the purchase costs based on the evaluation reports. 

Conclusion 

Here, we have provided a detailed description of the cost of a home inspection in India. Based on our breakdown provided, you can easily know the areas that will need more investment. Although it might sound costly at the beginning, conducting the inspection will help you make a well-informed investment. 

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