Are you ready to buy your dream home? Are you ready to invest a chunk of your life's savings on it? Before you sign on the dotted line, slow down and take a close look at reality first. The worst thing you can do is to rush into escrow before seeing the home objectively so your dream doesn't turn into a money pit - no home is worth that.
Getting a professional home inspection ensures that a trained expert has provided you with an objective and unbiased visual investigation of your potential new home starting from the roof down to the foundation.
Avoid Costly Hidden Repairs
By inspecting your new home, you'll also have peace of mind and confidence that you won't be spending thousands of dollars on hidden repairs once you move in. Home inspections give homebuyers an impartial evaluation of the home's physical condition including the property's mechanical systems, construction, and overall structure. They also serve to identify any items that require repair, or replacement, and give a relative estimate of how long key systems, equipment, and finishes will probably last.
It's crucial for homebuyers to have extensive knowledge concerning the condition of the home. The inspection itself is not a home appraisal or actually targeting any cosmetic problems, but rather mechanical and structural concerns instead.
Nearly 75% of all homeowners claim that having a home inspection helped them to avoid any potential issues, the majority stating they saved immeasurable amounts of money, in the end, thanks to the inspection.
Checklist for Home Inspection:
- Prior to hiring a professional, assess the property yourself and look for potential costly repairs including a leaky roof, water damage, drainage problems, signs that water has entered in through the basement or foundation.
- Check the condition and age of the home's electrical system, water pressure, and how fast water drains. Slow-draining water could indicate a bigger problem.
- Examine the household appliances. How old are they? Are they still in good working order? Also check the following systems: air conditioning, ventilation, and heat in addition to the water heater.
- Stand back from the house and examine the roof. Do you see any broken or missing shingles?
- Make sure that seller's disclosure is completely accurate to avoid any misunderstandings.
- It's crucial that you hire a professional certified home inspector. Otherwise, you won't have a leg to stand on when demanding repairs.
Home Inspection Cost
Based on your specific location in addition to the size and age of the home, the cost of a home inspection can vary greatly. Keep in mind that the expense doesn't always reflect quality either. Don't be surprised if different inspectors offer you considerably varied quotes.
Guidelines for Choosing a Reputable Home Inspector
- Ask the home inspector to see examples of the reports they've compiled for other jobs.
- Check with neighbours, friends, family members, colleagues, or expert real estate agents on which inspector they recommend and trust.
- Interview more than one inspector before picking one to hire. Thoroughly check their professional credentials and provide them information regarding your targeted property.
- Select an inspector who's dedicated to ongoing education and training in the area of their expertise. This is especially important if you're considering an older or historic home.
- Request information regarding the inspector's professional history. Also, ask for the names and numbers of previous clients and if they focus on residential real estate. A background in engineering and construction is definitely a plus but is not a substitute for experience when it comes to professional home inspection.
- Request a firm quote upfront. A reputable home inspector will not charge extra fees on site.
- If possible, be present during the home inspection. Generally, it lasts around 2 - 4 hours depending on the size of the home.
In the end, intending to buy a home without a professional home inspection first, is probably the single most irresponsible thing you can do as far as protecting your investment goes. It took years to earn enough money to finally buy a home. Take the necessary time for an inspection to ensure you're getting your money's worth.
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Posted by Terry Paranych on
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