What is the difference between a building inspection and a home inspection?

The big difference between a building inspection and a home inspection has to do with what most people think of when they think of a home inspection. Usually when you buy your home, the real estate agent will recommend that you have an inspection done. The inspector will come out, spend a few hours at your house and give you a written report. That typically costs between $300 and $400. A building inspection that’s related to a construction defect claim, will be done by a licensed engineer and will typically cost more like $4,000 – $5,000 so it’s much more thorough, done by a much more experienced and trained person. Much more likely to find hidden problems or indications of hidden problems that a typical home inspection would not show.