What Is a Home Inspection in Washington State?

A home inspection is a visual check of a house done by a licensed inspector to help you understand the home’s condition before you buy it.

It’s not required by the state, but most buyers choose to get one because it can reveal expensive or safety-related problems.

The inspector checks the main, easy-to-see parts of the home, including:

• Roof

• Foundation and structure (what can be seen)

• Exterior walls, windows, doors, decks

• Inside walls, ceilings, and floors

• Plumbing (sinks, toilets, visible pipes)

• Electrical system (outlets, switches, panel)

• Heating and cooling systems

• Built-in kitchen appliances

The inspector will turn things on, like faucets, lights, and the furnace, to see if they work.

The goal is to find big or important problems, such as:

• Roof leaks

• Electrical or fire hazards

• Plumbing leaks

• Heating or cooling problems

• Structural concerns

A home inspection is not a deep investigation. The inspector:

• Does not open walls or floors

• Does not look behind insulation or underground

• Does not inspect detached buildings (like sheds or detached garages)

• Does not test security systems or special features

• Does not guarantee the house won’t have future problems

If something can’t be seen, it usually can’t be inspected.

What You Get

You receive a written report that explains:

• What’s working

• What needs attention

• What may need repair or further evaluation

This report helps you decide whether to:

• Move forward with the purchase

• Ask the seller to fix items

• Renegotiate the price

• Walk away during your inspection period

In Simple Terms

Think of a home inspection like a checkup for a house.
It shows you the major visible issues today, so there are no big surprises later.