Before you buy a home, one of the things you should do is to have the home checked out by a professional home inspector. Purchasing a home is expensive enough as it is – why would you choose to fork over another $400 if you’re not required to? I’ll try to explain what a home inspection can reveal and why you shouldn’t forgo this optional procedure.
Your first clue that a home inspection is important is that it can be used as a contingency in your purchase offer. This contingency provides that if significant defects are revealed by a home inspection, you can back out of your offer, free of penalty, within a certain time frame. The potential problems a home can have must be pretty serious if they could allow you to walk away from such a significant contract.
Inspectors vary in experience, ability and thoroughness, but a good inspector should examine certain components of the home you want to purchase and then produce a report full of pictures and descriptions of their findings. The typical inspection lasts two to three hours and you should be present for the inspection to get a firsthand explanation of the inspector’s findings and, if necessary, ask questions. Also, any problems the inspector uncovers will make more sense if you see th
em in person instead of relying solely on the snapshot photos in the report.
The home inspector should note whether each problem is a safety issue, major defect, or minor defect, which items need replacement and which should be repaired or serviced or what items that are suitable for now but that should be monitored closely. A good inspector will even tell you about routine maintenance that should be performed, which can be a great help if you are a first-time home buyer. While it is impossible to list everything an inspector could possibly check for, click on the following link to get a general idea of what to expect from a qualified home inspector……
Questions about a Home Inspection? Send them in the comment section below.