Georgia Cost GuideWhat does a standard home inspection cover, and what does it leave out?
The inspector looks over the parts of the house that can be seen and reached, from the roof and attic down to the crawl space or basement, and the major systems in between. The report says what turned up and what may need a closer look from a specialist.
What the inspector cannot see stays out of it. A standard inspection does not measure radon in the air, run a camera through the buried sewer line, send mold samples to a lab or, in many cases, test a pool's equipment. Those are separate services, and many inspectors sell them as add-ons you can book for the same visit.
These are estimates from what Georgia home inspectors publish, not quotes, and we do not name any company. A standard home inspection is estimated at $350 to $440+. See what a home inspection costs in Georgia for what moves that price.
When is radon testing worth asking about?
Radon is a gas you cannot see or smell, and levels can differ from one house to the next on the same street, so a test is the way to learn a particular home's level. It is worth asking about for most homes, and especially one where people will spend time on the lowest level, such as a finished basement.
The test runs over a period of time with a monitor or a kit left in the house, so it fits best when the inspector can set it out at the inspection and collect it afterward. Radon testing is estimated at $180 to $250+. See what radon testing costs. If a result is high, installing a radon system is separate work with its own price, and the inspector can tell you what they suggest.
When is a sewer scope worth it?
The main sewer line runs underground from the house to the street or the septic tank, so a standard inspection only sees what goes into it. A sewer scope sends a camera down the line and records what it finds.
It is worth asking about for an older home, a home with large trees between the house and the street, a home that has sat empty for a while, or one where the drains are slow when you run water. On a septic system, the camera stops at the tank, and checking the tank itself is a job for a septic company. A sewer scope inspection is estimated at $210 to $260+. See what a sewer scope inspection costs.
When should you order mold testing?
Ask about mold when there is a reason to: a stain on a ceiling or wall, a musty smell, signs of past water damage, or moisture noted in the home inspection report. Two services are sold here, and they answer different questions.
- Mold inspection: A visual check for moisture and visible growth, often with a moisture meter. It may include no samples. It is estimated at $190 to $370+. See what a mold inspection costs.
- Mold testing: Air or surface samples that go to a lab for results. A testing visit is estimated at $240 to $430+, and a charge per added sample is estimated at $50 to $95+ per sample. See what mold testing costs.
Neither one removes mold. If you want both the look and the samples, ask for one price that covers both, and ask how many samples it includes.
When does a pool inspection make sense?
If the home has a pool or a spa, ask whether the home inspection covers it. Many standard inspections leave the pool out or touch on it only briefly, and a pool inspection looks over the surface, the deck, the pump, the filter, the heater, the lights and the fencing around the water. A pool inspection is estimated at $160 to $250+. See what a pool inspection costs. A covered or winterized pool limits what can be checked, so ask what the report will leave out.
How do you decide which add-ons to order?
Start with the house, not the menu. These questions help:
- Will anyone live, sleep or work on the lowest level of the home?
- How old is the home, and are there large trees near the sewer line?
- Have you seen stains, smelled mustiness or been told about past leaks?
- Does the home have a pool, a spa or a hot tub?
- Does the inspector take anything off when you add tests to the same visit?
- When will each result arrive, and will you have them all before your purchase contract's deadline for inspections?
Ask each inspector to list every service and its price in writing before the visit, so you can compare the same set of tests from one quote to the next.
Prices mentioned here come from our Georgia home inspection cost ranges, built from the prices and cost guides Georgia home inspectors publish on their public websites, collected November 2026.