One of the biggest investments you will ever make is your home. Because of this, having a home inspection is a very important part of buying as well as selling a home. Home inspectors vary in their years of experience, reporting methods, and prices. Because of this, it is very important to choose the right one.
So what exactly is a home inspection? A home inspection is a non-invasive examination of the condition of a home and is often performed prior to a home sale. After inspecting a home, the inspector gives the client a written report of his or her findings, so the client can use that knowledge to make a decision about the pending purchase. The report will describe the condition of the home at the time of inspection, but does not guarantee the condition, efficiency, or future useful life of any systems or components.
The top five things that surprise a homeowner when inspecting a home include:
1. Dry and rotten bathroom floors
2. Major problems with heating and air conditioning units.
3. Foundation repair
4. Roof replacement
5. Old house problems
Why should you hire a home inspector? There are many who will try to talk him out of it by saying it’s an extra cost he doesn’t need, or any of these other excuses.
1. “You should wait as long as possible before getting a home inspection” That’s not true. Waiting until the last minute to have your home inspected could leave you without the information you need to make an informed decision about a home. You generally have 10 days to complete an inspection, in addition to meeting deadlines to cancel a contract on a home. If you miss this deadline, you could lose the opportunity to cancel your contract and still get your money back.
2. “The company that offers the lowest price is the company you should hire” This is not necessarily true. If a company offers a low price, it usually means that the company is new and doesn’t really know what its price is, and probably won’t be in business for long. If there are only one or two concerns about a home, it’s possible to have a specialist look at those issues for less than the cost of an inspection.
3. “If you’re buying a new home, you don’t need an inspection” Many people have the misconception that if they’re buying a new home, they don’t need a home inspection. Just because a house is new doesn’t mean that everything will work perfectly or that it was put together correctly. It’s safest to let an experienced professional check things out for you.
Hiring a home inspector may seem like an added expense, but by having your home inspected, you can avoid a lot of headaches down the road!
