3 home inspectors!
Prices vary from the suburbs to the city, but securing a home inspection before closing on a new home in Chicago is essential to protect against costly repairs.
Home inspection: It’s the one thing every Chicago-area home buyer shouldn't go without.
The last line of defense against purchasing a property with costly hidden problems, a home inspection also can help homebuyers score a better deal at closing.
The costs for home inspections differ across the country and range anywhere from $375 to $550 for the average 2,000-square-foot home. Chicago-area Angie's List members report paying an average cost of $553 for a home inspection, but that can vary depending on where exactly you live.
Suburban home inspection
Gary Monfeli is the owner of The Home Inspection Man in suburban Plainfield, Illinois. His company provides inspection of structural, electrical, heating and cooling, plumbing, basement/crawl space/slab, kitchen, interiors and exteriors.
His home inspections cost $360 for a single-family suburban home. Costs increase from there depending on the home size and special requests made by homebuyers.
Chicago home inspection
When it comes to for-sale properties in the city, home inspection prices vary widely. It depends on what kind of home is inspected, says Markus Keller with Accurate Inspections & Consulting in Chicago.
“I get this question a lot,” Keller says. “If you are going to define average cost, then you have to define average house — average raised ranch around Midway Airport or average estate in Highland Park?”
Despite saying defining average costs for home inspections is difficult, Keller offers the following breakdown of home inspection prices by home type found in the city:
Single-family home: $425 to $700
Estate home with multiple buildings: $1,000 to $3,000
Condo unit: $350 to $450
Duplex or up and down unit: $425 to $700
Editor's note: This is an updated version of an article originally posted on September 4, 2014.
Live in Chicago? How much did you pay for your home inspection? Let us know in the comments section below.