Why You Must Get A Home Inspection Before Buying

Why You Must Get A Home Inspection

Foxy Kitty Shopping Mall – Real Estate library

Foxy Kitty Shopping Mall » Real Estate Library

Why You Must Get A Home Inspection Before Buying

If you’re in the process of house hunting, here’s a tip you should pay careful attention to: Whether you are considering buying a brand new house, older house in good shape or a handy man special, get the house inspected before closing the sale.

An inspection will cost you a few hundred dollars, but the knowledge you will gain – and the money you can possibly save – are a wise investment!

While a home inspection is recommended by any good realtor, anyone who has been through the house buying process knows that a home inspection is very important. In general (and it may be different in your state) home inspectors are NOT licensed contractors.

So, while they look at the overall condition of your electrical, plumbing and carpentry, you might want to consider hiring a licensed contractor or engineer to do your home inspection. It’s more expensive, but if major problems exist – ones that most people could not identify – it will more than pay for itself.

AT THE VERY LEAST, if you see any potential problems hire a plumber, electrician and carpenter to give you an estimate for any possible repairs. Some will do this for a small fee, some will do it for free, but either way, it will be well worth the piece of mind!

If there are any problems with the house then ask the seller to fix them.

The seller is not required to fix them, so if they say no, you need to decide whether you want to fix them yourself (and if you can even afford to fix them). Or if you want to call off the deal and look for a new house (but be sure to consult with your lawyer first!). These inspections cost money, but major surprises can cost you much, much more!

Make sure you look OUTSIDE the house as well.

Have the septic inspected, have the well inspected, look around the yard and check out the whole property. Don’t overlook anything that might cost you money later on. Ask the sellers for service records of any of the appliances that will stay with you, such as the furnace, central air conditioning, etc.

Finally, get YOUR own inspector, not one connected with the realtor.

And as any major contract, ask the inspector for references first and contact them. Also, make sure your inspector is licensed by the state in which you are buying the house (most states require this licensing but better be safe). This may help you later if there are any problems.

It’s YOUR money and it’s YOUR house.

So do EVERYTHING you can to avoid paying any more money than you have to!

During the inspection, walk through the house with the inspector. Watch everything that the inspector “inspects” (and does not inspect) and ask as many questions as you want to learn as much as you can about the house.

Look at everything – big and small – such as outlets, switches, faucets, phone lines, etc. Make sure everything works. The inspector might take a look at these items but it is a good idea to recheck anyway just in case he missed something.

After the inspection, you should receive a written report. Make sure you take your time reading the report. Check every last detail to make sure you didn’t miss anything. The sellers will want a response within a few days and you don’t want to miss the deadline.

Credits: Kris Bickell