Should you inspect a house you’re buying as-is?

Yes — and the reason has nothing to do with repairs. Buying as-is means you give up the repair request. It does not mean you give up the information, and the information is what you are actually paying us for.

What the report is worth when nobody is fixing anything

Three things. First, it prices your first two years of ownership: the roof, the heater, the panel, the drainage. Those numbers decide whether the house is affordable at the agreed price, which is a different question from whether the price is fair.

Second, it finds the deal-breakers. As-is contracts almost always keep an inspection contingency, so a report that turns up active structural movement or a failed septic system is your way out with your deposit intact.

Third, it gives your insurer what they are going to ask for anyway. Roof age, wiring type, and water heater condition all show up in a coastal quote, and it is better to know before closing than after.

Ask for the walkthrough

On an as-is purchase the walkthrough matters more than the document. Come for the last hour of the inspection and ask what you would do first if the house were yours. You are buying every finding in that report, so it is worth an hour to hear them in order of what they will cost you.