If you’re thinking about getting a home inspection, take this as your sign to follow through.

A home inspection is an optional but highly recommended step before buying a home. Homeowners who hire a home inspector almost always find at least one problem in their report.

Even for newly constructed homes, these inspections reveal problems early so you can avoid expensive repairs and dangerous malfunctions down the road. In fact, 65% of new homes that underwent inspection reported at least minor issues. 

The average cost for a home inspection in Florida is $325, which is a small price to pay for safety and peace of mind. 

Let’s take a look at the different types of home inspections you can get in Florida, their costs, and the factors that may lower or increase them. 

What Kind of Home Inspections Are There in Florida?

There are several types of home inspections to consider depending on what you or a previous inspector determines your home needs.

Standard Home Inspections

If you’re buying or selling your home, you will likely end the process with this thorough type of home inspection.

In a standard home inspection, a “generalist” inspector will cover the exterior and interior of the house. The inspector will check for any issues non-invasively, looking for visual signs of problems instead of using tools to check inside walls or appliances.

During the exterior inspection, the inspector will check the roof, grading and water drainage, garage, walls, and foundation. The interior inspection includes the electrical systems, HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning), plumbing, fire safety, water-related bathroom hazards, water heater, and major appliances. 

Four-Point Home Inspections

A four-point inspection is useful and sometimes required by your home insurance provider if you have a home older than 20 years old. These inspections cover four areas: electrical, plumbing, HVAC, and roofing systems. The areas covered by a four-point inspection are usually included in a standard home inspection.

Wind Mitigation Inspections

A wind mitigation inspection is especially necessary in Florida due to hurricanes. These inspections assess how prepared your roof, doors, windows, walls, and landscaping are against high winds and flooding. 

Wind mitigation inspections are separate from a standard home inspection. While OpenHouse doesn’t require wind mitigation inspections, conducting one ensures you receive the proper credits for the features of your home you inspect. 

Special Home Inspections

If your general home inspector doesn’t cover something or suspects an issue that requires specialty knowledge, they might recommend a special home inspection.

There are many types of special home inspections, including:

  • Asbestos testing
  • Lead-based paint testing
  • Radon testing
  • Chimney inspections
  • Foundation inspections
  • Mold inspections
  • Pest inspections (including wood-destroying organisms, like termites)
  • Pool inspections
  • Septic tank inspections
  • Sewer scopes (to check for damage to your home’s pipes)

Cost of Home Inspections in Florida

Standard home inspection prices in Florida will typically range from $250 to $400, depending on the square footage of your home and other factors listed in the next section. 

A four-point inspection in Florida will cost you anywhere between $50 and $200. 

A wind mitigation inspection in Florida will cost you about $75 to $150. 

Each special inspection varies in cost. Below is a list of cost ranges for common types of special inspections. 

  • Asbestos: $230 – $800
  • Chimney: $300 – $600
  • Foundation: $340 – $720
  • Lead-based paint: $250 – $700
  • Mold: $350 – $500 
  • Radon: $150 – $700
  • Pool: $130 – $250
  • Septic tank: $200 – $900
  • Sewer lines: $250 – $1,340 
  • Termites: $230 – $930 

Florida Home Inspection Cost Factors

Home inspection costs in Florida, including special inspections, come in ranges because the actual price you’ll pay for a home inspection will depend on several factors. 

  • Size of house: For example, if you have a particularly small home, you may pay around $100, while a particularly large home may cost over $1,000. 
  • Age of house: The older your home, the more experience your inspector will need to provide an accurate inspection, which increases the price. Thus, a new home’s inspection cost is usually less expensive.
  • Region of Florida: A more expensive real estate market like Miami will have higher home inspection prices than a less expensive market like Orlando. 
  • Number of inspectors in your area: If you’re in an area of Florida with a lot of inspectors, you can expect more competitive prices. 
  • Additional home inspection services you may need: Your general home inspection may reveal that you need additional special inspections, which will incur additional costs. 

How Long Do Florida Home Inspections Take?

A standard home inspection will typically take two to four hours to ensure a detailed assessment. 

Meanwhile, four-point and wind mitigation inspections take about 30 minutes to an hour to complete.

Like the cost of your home inspections, however, more square footage will lead to a longer inspection. If your inspector took less time, they wouldn’t be able to catch subtle issues. 

Remember, the goal is to save you the pain of having to deal with major home issues in the future by catching them when they’re small.

Pro Tip: Be present with your home inspector as they conduct the inspection to ask them any questions you may have and ensure they sufficiently check the areas of scrutiny.

Where To Find a Florida Home Inspector

When looking for a home inspector, the goal is to find someone who is qualified and experienced—not necessarily the cheapest price. You may be tempted to lean toward a lower price or skip a home inspection altogether, but an inspection can save you thousands of dollars in repair costs by catching problems early. 

Search for home inspectors online with resources like:

Consider asking friends and family for their home inspector recommendations if they have conducted one for their home. If people you trust had a good experience with their inspection, then the inspector could be a viable option. 

Check out our more detailed guide on picking a home inspector once you have a list of potential candidates.

Does Home Insurance Require a Home Inspection in Florida?

Standard home inspections are generally optional unless you agreed otherwise in your real estate contract. However, depending on your Florida insurance provider, you may be required to have a four-point home inspection for a home older than 20 or 30 years. 

Depending on your insurance carrier, they may require your home to undergo one home inspection or another. Double check with your insurance provider to find out if your home needs an inspection and, if so, what type. 

Who Pays for Inspections When Buying a Home in Florida?

Typically, the buyer of the home pays for the inspection. By paying for the home inspection, the buyer has control over which inspector they hire. However, for insurance coverage inspections, the insurance company pays for the inspection. 

If a seller were to pay for the home inspection, their desire for a passing inspection could negatively influence who they hire. If you are the seller, you should eliminate your own bias by allowing the buyer to pay. 

What Happens After a Florida Home Inspection?

After your home is inspected, you can expect a written report within 24 hours. The report will highlight the results of the inspection and may include images of the problem areas. 

As we said before, most homes that undergo an inspection are likely to have at least one problem. If you need home repairs in Florida, here’s a directory to help you find contractors for every category of home improvement. 

The Inspection Contingency

If you’re worried about purchasing a home with many unforeseen problems, an inspection contingency may ease your mind.

An inspection contingency is a clause in your real estate contract as part of your home offer. The clause gives the buyer the right to conduct a home inspection and renegotiate or back out of the deal based on the inspection’s results. 

Renegotiation can look like agreeing on a new sale price, asking the seller to fix the problems uncovered, or asking the seller to give you credit to fix the problems yourself. 

Because the inspection contingency gives you more control as a buyer over possible negative results, it’s a good idea to always formulate one with the seller when creating your contract. 

Inspect the Uninspected

We get it—whether you’re a buyer or seller, a home inspection is yet another cost and task on a seemingly never-ending list of costs and tasks. But an inspection will save you the headache of discovering needed repairs later and can uncover potentially life-threatening problems. 
And remember, a higher house inspection cost may mean a more thorough inspection from someone with more experience.

With a third party evaluating your home, you can rest easy knowing you made an important and proactive decision that will benefit you and your family in the long run.