# Which inspections do you need?

> A general home inspection is usually where a purchase starts, not where it stops. Which extra inspections and tests a home may need depends on its age, its lowest level, whether it is on a well or a septic system, what the buyer has seen, and what the inspector flags. Talk the list through with your agent.

By David Knorr, founder of BuyWise Home. Last reviewed October 28, 2026. Web page: https://www.buywisehome.com/guide/tools/which-inspections

## Every check, when it's worth it, and what it usually costs

| Check | When it's worth it | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|
| General home inspection | Always: where every purchase usually starts. | Often about $300 to $600 |
| [Radon](https://www.buywisehome.com/guide/glossary/radon) test | Any home, especially with a basement or crawlspace. The only way to know the level is to test. | Often $150 to $300; a do-it-yourself kit less |
| [Sewer scope](https://www.buywisehome.com/guide/glossary/sewer-scope) | Older homes, big trees near the line, or slow drains. | Often $125 to $500 |
| Septic inspection | Homes on a septic system rather than city sewer. | Often $300 to $650 |
| Well water test | Homes on a well rather than city water. | Often $100 to $350; $250 to $550 with a well inspection |
| [Termite and pest inspection](https://www.buywisehome.com/guide/glossary/termite-letter) | Where termites are common, or when your lender asks for a termite letter. | Often $75 to $325; some inspect free |
| [Lead paint](https://www.buywisehome.com/guide/glossary/lead-paint) test | Homes built before 1978, especially with peeling paint or a renovation planned. | Often $250 to $450 |
| [Asbestos](https://www.buywisehome.com/guide/glossary/asbestos) test | Damaged older materials, or a remodel planned in a home built before the 1980s. | Often $250 to $850 |
| Mold check | Only where there are signs of water, mold or a musty smell. | Often $300 to $700 |
| Structural engineer | Cracks, doors that stick, sloping floors, a home on a slope, or when the inspector flags the structure. | Often $350 to $900 |
| Roofer | A roof that looks old or damaged, or that the inspector flags. | Often $125 to $350 |
| Heating and cooling specialist | Systems past about 15 years, or when the inspector flags them. | Often $100 to $400 |
| Electrician | A fuse box or older panel, too few outlets, or when the inspector flags the wiring. | Often $100 to $350 |
| Chimney inspection | Any fireplace or wood stove: a general inspection usually does not look inside the flue. | Often $200 to $500 |
| Pool or spa inspection | Any pool or spa. | Often $200 to $500 |
| Property survey | When you plan a fence or an addition, the lot lines are unclear, or your lender or title company requires one. | Often $375 to $750 |

Cost ranges are typical national figures from published cost guides, rounded; prices vary by area and home.

## How to use the list

1. Book the ones the home calls for on day 1 of due diligence: inspectors fill up, and some tests need lab results.
2. You pay for every inspection and test up front, even if you walk away.
3. Take the findings and a written quote for each fix to the seller as one request for a credit at closing.
4. When the inspector flags something, that is the specialist to book.
5. Every finding and quote goes into one request for a credit at closing. BuyWise writes that request from the inspection, the tests and the seller's disclosure.

## The interactive tool

https://www.buywisehome.com/guide/tools/which-inspections sorts every check into book it, worth considering, or not this time from a few questions about the home, with who does each one, what it usually costs and when to book it.

## Sources

- [U.S. EPA: Map of radon zones](https://www.epa.gov/radon/epa-map-radon-zones)
- [U.S. EPA: Radon and real estate](https://www.epa.gov/radon/radon-and-real-estate-resources)
- [HUD: For your protection, get a home inspection](https://www.hud.gov/sites/dfiles/OCHCO/documents/92564-CN.pdf)
- [U.S. EPA: Mold, moisture and your home](https://www.epa.gov/mold/brief-guide-mold-moisture-and-your-home)
- [U.S. EPA: Caring for a septic system](https://www.epa.gov/septic/how-care-your-septic-system)
- [U.S. EPA: Private wells](https://www.epa.gov/privatewells/protect-your-homes-water)
- [U.S. EPA: Lead paint disclosures in home sales](https://www.epa.gov/lead/real-estate-disclosures-about-potential-lead-hazards)
- [U.S. EPA: Asbestos in your home](https://www.epa.gov/asbestos/protect-your-family-exposures-asbestos)
- [U.S. EPA: Termites](https://www.epa.gov/safepestcontrol/termites-how-identify-and-control-them)
- [U.S. Fire Administration: Heating fire safety](https://www.usfa.fema.gov/prevention/home-fires/prevent-fires/heating/)
- [Cost ranges: HomeGuide cost guides (2026)](https://homeguide.com/costs/home-inspection-cost)
- [Cost ranges: HomeAdvisor cost guides (2025–26)](https://www.homeadvisor.com/cost/inspectors-and-appraisers/hire-a-home-inspector/)
- [Cost ranges: Angi cost guides (2026)](https://www.angi.com/articles/how-much-does-home-inspection-cost.htm)
- [Cost ranges: Forbes Home, termite inspection cost](https://www.forbes.com/home-improvement/pest-control/termite-inspection-cost/)

_General information from public guidance. Rules and contracts differ by state, and your own contract decides: read it, and ask your agent or closing agent about anything that matters. Not legal or financial advice._