Your offer has been accepted, and now you are booking the inspection. The basic fee sounds manageable, but adding radon, termites and a sewer camera can change the total before the inspector arrives.
So a home inspection costs $450 to $550 on Taylor Home Inspections of NJ’s size-based menu for homes up to 3,500 square feet. Radon testing, a termite report and a sewer scope have separate charges.
I will work through that menu, compare another inspector’s starting fees and show what buyers paid. The goal is to book the inspection you need with a clear idea of what the report will cover.
Home Inspection Prices by House Size
Taylor Home Inspections serves New Jersey and New York City. Its standard inspection menu uses these square-footage bands:
Its larger-home and high-value-home pricing is separate. Confirm the quote if either applies rather than extending the last band to any size property.
At Urban Building Inspectors in Golden Valley, Minnesota, a standard inspection starts at $395 for 2,000 total square feet or less, $425 for 2,001 to 2,800 and $450 for 2,801 to 4,000.
Urban adds $50 for homes more than 80 years old because of the extra time. Its menu also distinguishes condos, townhomes, extra units and outbuildings.
Ask how the inspector counts the property’s area, including a basement or unfinished space. A real estate listing’s finished living area may not be the measurement used for the fee.
The Tests That Can Raise the Total
Taylor’s menu separates these services from the home inspection. The discounted radon and termite-report fees below apply when booked with a paid inspection.
For a 2,000-square-foot home with all three tests, my Taylor-menu sum is $500 + $175 + $100 + $350 = $1,125 or more. The sewer scope starts at that amount rather than having a fixed fee for every property.
Choose the services with the inspector based on the house and the questions you need answered. A property with a well or septic system needs a different testing discussion from one connected to city utilities.
If a service is already included in a package, count it once. Get the complete booking total and the list of tests before paying a deposit.
What the Basic Inspection Covers
The American Society of Home Inspectors’ standard addresses accessible, visible installed systems. Its sections include the structure, exterior, roof, plumbing, electrical systems, heating, cooling, interiors, insulation and ventilation.
Under that standard, the inspector provides a written report on significant problems and items needing correction, monitoring or further evaluation. The report should also identify required systems that were not inspected and explain why.
That is a useful distinction when booking. The inspection can point you toward a roofer, electrician or other specialist, but it does not include every possible specialist investigation.
ASHI does not require the inspector to calculate repair costs or open up finished construction to search for hidden defects. Ask for a sample report so you can see how findings and access limits are explained.
An inaccessible area is worth following up. Find out whether the owner can make it accessible before the appointment, or whether another visit will be needed.
What Buyers Reported for Their Inspections
These Talk of The Villages accounts are for Florida homes. They show how insurance-related reports and other services can sit beside the general inspection fee.
- April 17, 2026: Runway48 reported a $405 home inspection, plus $50 for a wind-mitigation certificate and $120 for wood-destroying insects, after a recent purchase.
- April 19, 2025: Guinness835 reported a $650 package from USA Home Inspections, including the regular, wind-mitigation and four-point inspections.
- April 20, 2025: yporter, in the same discussion, reported a $465 inspection in December 2021 to Integrious Home Services. Roof and wind mitigation were included.
The first buyer’s combined fees come to $405 + $50 + $120 = $575. The other packages cover different work, so their totals are easier to understand with the service list beside them.
A Seller’s Inspection or a Return Visit
Taylor publishes a separate pre-sale inspection menu: $400 up to 3,000 square feet and $500 up to 4,000. Ask how its scope and report compare with the buyer inspection you are considering.
A return visit to check repairs is another booking. Agree which repaired items will be reviewed and what written update you will receive, rather than assuming a re-inspection repeats the entire original appointment.
If the first report recommends a structural assessment or another specialist, book that separately. A general return visit does not replace the specialist’s investigation.
Before You Choose an Inspector
I would read the inspection agreement alongside the fee. Confirm the areas covered, any excluded systems, the report delivery time and whether you can attend to ask questions.
Tell the inspector about detached buildings, pools, private utilities and known concerns when booking. Those details help avoid discovering on inspection day that the appointment covers less than you expected.
Leave time to read the report and arrange follow-up work within your purchase schedule. If the report calls for a repair, get that work priced by the appropriate trade before treating the inspection fee as the end of the expense.
Questions Buyers Ask About Inspection Fees
How Much Is a Home Inspection for a 2,000-Square-Foot House?
Taylor Home Inspections of NJ charges $500 on its standard size menu. Urban Building Inspectors in Minnesota starts at $395 for 2,000 total square feet or less. These are two inspectors’ regional menus.
Is Radon Testing Included in the Basic Fee?
It is separate on Taylor’s menu, at an additional $175 with a paid inspection. Check your inspector’s package before adding another test to the booking.
Will the Inspector Tell Me What Repairs Cost?
ASHI’s standard does not require repair-cost estimates. A report may recommend further evaluation, after which the relevant specialist or contractor can price the work.
Does Checking Repairs Require Another Fee?
It can. Taylor’s re-inspection fee starts at $250. Agree the items and report update covered by the return appointment.
Where These Prices Come From
Checked October 25, 2026. Inspector menus are regional US prices; the buyer accounts retain their posting and purchase dates.
- Taylor Home Inspections of NJ: standard, pre-sale and additional-service pricing.
- Urban Building Inspectors: total-area starting fees and older-home charge.
- American Society of Home Inspectors: Standard of Practice, scope and reporting limits.
- Talk of The Villages buyer accounts linked above, posted April 2025 and April 2026.
I hope your inspection gives you a clearer picture of the home and the work ahead. For a question about a US inspection fee, email costcheckr@gmail.com.
