How Home Inspections Are Priced

When you’re buying a home, every cost matters — from closing fees to insurance to inspections. One of the most common questions buyers ask is “How much does a home inspection cost, and what affects the price?”

At First Responding Home Inspections, we believe that understanding how inspections are priced helps you make smarter, more confident decisions during one of the biggest purchases of your life. Here’s a breakdown of what determines the cost, why prices vary, and what to expect when you schedule.

What determines the cost of a home inspection

The main factor that affects the cost of a home inspection is the size of the home. Most inspection companies, including ours, base pricing primarily on square footage because larger homes take more time to inspect and report on.

For example, a 3,000-square-foot home will typically have more systems, electrical outlets, plumbing fixtures, and roof area than a 1,200-square-foot property — meaning more time, photos, and documentation for the inspector. Additionally, and especially notable in the Austin area, most homes over 2500 square feet have 2 HVAC units and complex duct work.

At First Responding Home Inspections, our pricing scales fairly with home size so that every property gets the same thorough attention without overcharging for smaller cozy homes.

Add-On Services That Influence Price

While a standard home inspection covers the structure and major systems, optional add-on services can provide deeper insights — especially for certain properties, conditions or loan types. These services are priced individually, allowing buyers to customize their inspection based on what matters most.

Here are our most common inspection add-ons:

  • Sewer Scope Inspection – Uses a small camera to inspect the main sewer line for cracks, blockages, or root intrusion. Especially useful for older homes or lots with large trees.

  • Elevation Measurement – Measures how level the foundation is to catch signs of settlement early.

  • Irrigation System Inspection – Evaluates sprinkler system function, coverage, and leaks — ideal for homes with established lawns or landscaped yards.

When scheduling online, you’ll see each add-on’s price clearly listed before confirming your appointment.

Why Home Inspection Prices Vary Between Companies

It’s normal to see a wide range of Austin home inspection prices when comparing companies, just like there’s a wide variety of home prices, car prices, etc. These differences usually come down to experience, included technology, and reporting quality.

Here’s what drives the variations:

  1. Experience and certification – Licensed, insured inspectors with advanced training and local expertise tend to deliver more detailed, reliable results and their pricing reflects that quality.

  2. Technology included – Some inspectors charge extra for drone or thermal imaging. We include both in every First Responding Home Inspections report at no additional cost.

  3. Report quality – Our detailed, same-day digital reports include photos, notes, and clear recommendations — far more informative than a basic checklist.

When evaluating home inspection cost, focus on value, transparency, and trust, not just the lowest price tag.

How to Get a Home Inspection Price Quote Upfront

With First Responding Home Inspections, you’ll always know your home inspection price before committing. When you schedule with us, you’ll receive an agreement and price quote based on your home’s square footage and any optional add-ons you choose. You are not committed to any services until you sign that agreement. If you are interested in working with us, you have nothing to lose by completing our scheduling form.

Inspection Scheduling and Quote Process

Booking your home inspection with First Responding Home Inspections is simple and transparent:

  1. Complete the form – Fill out our online scheduling form with basic property details and your preferred date/time.

  2. Receive email confirmation – You’ll get an email confirming your selected time, your inspection price, and the inspection agreement.

  3. Review and sign the agreement – The agreement clearly states your total price. If everything looks good, sign electronically to confirm.

  4. Make payment online – Payment is required before your inspection to ensure we can provide your same-day digital report. Note: We will perform the inspection as scheduled, but the report cannot be released until payment is received.

This process ensures clarity, convenience, and no surprises — from scheduling to receiving your report.

Schedule inspection

Home Inspection Pricing and Payment FAQs

  • Most often the home buyer pays for the inspection. However, that is not a hard and fast rule. We will happily work with whichever party. Please note, we only send the report to the party who has paid for the inspection.

  • We accept all major credit cards are for your convenience. To keep payments secure and efficient, cash and checks are not accepted.

  • No — we are happy to go over your report and answer any questions at no additional charge.

  • Cancelations with 48 hours notice or more will be refunded or rescheduled; whichever you prefer. If less than 48 hours notice is given, there cancelation fee is 50% of inspection cost.

  • Knock on wood, this very rarely happens. However, if circumstances result in a cancelation, we will happily reschedule or refund you, whichever is best for you.

  • No. The inspection fee is solely for the services we provide to you, the homeowner or buyer.