Owner & Lead Inspector John Nelson
Proudly Serving the Communities of Northern Virginia

Buyer's Inspections

Pre-Closing Home Inspections for Homebuyers in Northern Virginia

Proudly Providing Inspection Services for Alexandria, Fairfax, Leesburg, Manassas, Arlington, Reston, Herndon, Centreville, and Surrounding Areas

Purchasing a home is one of the most exciting decisions you’ll ever make. Don’t let surprises get in the way of enjoying your new home. Our detailed inspections provide you with a clear understanding of the property’s condition, empowering you to make an informed decision and negotiate effectively.

Why Do You Need a Buyer's Inspection?

An NPI inspector discusses findings with two clients and points out an intriguing detail.
Jeremy A.
Our NPI inspectors were beyond thorough, more than happy to educate along the way, and overall made my fiancé and I feel more comfortable about buying our first home. If you’re going somewhere else, you’ve already messed up.

Explore a Sample NPI Home Inspection Report

Our comprehensive, easy-to-read reports are emailed to you within 24 hours of the inspection. They include a general summary of the home, home maintenance recommendations, and explanations of the condition of the home’s structure, systems, and appliances. 

open laptop screen showing an online NPI sample report

What's Included in an NPI Home Inspection?

Frequently Asked Questions About Buyer's Inspections

National Property Inspections Northern Virginia West is here to help you get the clarity and confidence you need to make an informed home purchase. Below, we’ve compiled answers to some of the most common questions that homebuyers have about inspections, so you can feel informed and prepared as you move forward in your homebuying journey.

The average home inspection takes between 2 and 3 hours. Factors that can affect the inspector’s time on site include the size and age of the property, and any additional services requested.

We encourage you and your agent to be present for the last 30 minutes of the inspection so that we can conduct a final walkthrough. During this time, we’ll show you any important findings and you’ll have a chance to ask as many questions as you’d like.

Your inspector will assess all of the home’s major structures and systems to determine their current condition, as well as needed maintenance or repairs. We also pay close attention to issues that can compromise the health and safety of a home like water intrusion, gas leaks, smoke detector functionality, handrail placement, and trip hazards.

Houses never “pass” or “fail” an inspection. Anything can be fixed! We are here to act as an unbiased third party so that you can understand the condition of the home and make the best decision for your family.

No, your inspector will not damage, modify, or move anything in the home to complete the inspection. We have the tools and technology to spot hidden issues and enter hard-to-reach places without the need for invasive measures.

The inspection report we provide is the property of the party that pays for the inspection service. In most real estate transactions, the homebuyer pays for the inspection of the home they’ve made the offer on.

It depends. Based on the type of loan you’re applying for, a home inspection may be required or optional—but either way, it’s always a good idea.

Here is a list of tasks that the current occupant or listing agent should plan to complete prior to the inspector’s scheduled appointment.

Our Client Testimonials

Here’s what our inspection clients have to say about their experience with NPI.

Chris Y.
NPI has helped us scout properties, sometimes on short notice, and they are always thorough, helpful, and kind. Some inspectors we've worked with tend to talk over your head, but NPI asks questions to get an idea of your understanding and meets you where you are. I wouldn't willingly work with anyone else. Highly recommended - they really are a remarkable team!
Nick W.
Chris provided us with a fantastic pre-listing inspection on a home we eventually purchased. He was incredibly efficient and knowledgeable, and he gave us all the information we needed to make our decision on the house. I would highly recommend him and NPI. I would definitely use them again!
Victoria K.
Great company and well organized. Chris was great, and did a good job explaining regular maintenance of the house and appliances. I have witnessed many inspections, and none that I remember showed or spoke about filters of dishwasher/fridge/grills of microwave, and their maintenance. I will definitely use them again!
Michael P.
Our home inspection was done by Chris Nelson at NPI and he is an absolute gem. His work was comprehensive, meticulous, and efficient. We learned a ton about our property, and I felt confident that I understood the property prior to closing. Very glad we made the decision to hire Chris and we look forward to working with him again in the years to come.
Sofia Y.
Awesome thorough inspection. Chris knows what he’s doing and is very quick on his feet. My husband and I have bought two homes and Chris inspected both. After an inspection this past Monday, we brought out some specialists for HVAC and electrical and their estimates matched exactly what Chris said. We highly recommend Chris as anyone’s go to inspector!
Ashley G.
As a first-time homebuyer, inspection day can be terrifying. Recently, we had a home inspection done by John Nelson, and we couldn't be more pleased. He was professional, thorough, and incredibly informative. John took the time to explain everything in detail, making complex issues easy to understand. I highly recommend John Nelson - thank you, for your excellent work!
William L.
I got my home inspected by Chris over a year ago, and he was incredibly thorough, teaching us the ins and outs of maintaining our home. This info came in handy when our HVAC stopped working on a ~100 degree day in June. I used what I learned from Chris to get the HVAC working again! We saved money and avoided the headache of hiring a technician - the home inspection has already paid dividends. We highly recommend!
Edward K.
As first-time buyers purchasing from far away, we were unable to examine our potential home as well as I would have liked and were relying on a good inspection to help our purchase. Chris did an outstanding job. He was responsive to questions and provided a very thorough report that allowed us to mitigate some problems ahead of time and saved us several thousand dollars in repairs. I would recommend his services to anyone.
Grace B.
Chris was awesome and hugely informative. He showed us what he was seeing and gave us general maintenance tips for items we hadn’t encountered before. He even helped us decide whether or not we should do the professional radon test or a home kit from Home Depot. All in all a great experience and we’re so excited to be moving forward with our home purchase feeling way more informed.
Kevin L.
Our experience with NPI was extremely positive and eye-opening. Brendan walked us through the home, and while he was pointing out possible points of trouble, he explained what could've caused it, and the possible routes we could take to rectify them. If you are looking for a top tier experience, look no further than NPI! Ask for Mr. Brendan White, I promise you that you won't be disappointed!

NPI Northern Virginia West is Your One-Stop Shop for All of Your Inspection Needs

Bundle your home inspection with ancillary services to get an even more complete picture of the condition and safety of your property. In addition to our residential and commercial property inspections, NPI offers a suite of services that can be tailored to your specific needs. Here are just a few services that our other homebuyers commonly include with their standard home inspection.

As the second leading cause of lung cancer, radon is a colorless, odorless gas that can enter your home through your foundation.

Sewer lines are among the most expensive home repairs. We’ll make sure your sewer line is undamaged and free of blockages.

Your inspector can collect samples from your home and send them to a lab for professional analysis to determine the presence of mold.