Why Should I Get A Home Inspection?
01
No matter how good the house looked, or how savvy your real estate agent, it takes a professional to test and prod for hidden defects. Even if the seller provides you an inspection report, it’s best not to rely on this alone. The seller might have chosen an inspector who’s not known for rooting out problems.
02
Home inspections disclose critical information about the condition of a home and its systems. This makes the buyer aware of what costs, repairs and maintenance the home may require now and over time. If the buyer isn’t comfortable with the information in the home inspection report, the buyer usually has one last opportunity to back out of the intended purchase of the home.
03
A home is one of the largest purchases and investments that is purchased in anyone’s lifetime. The costs associated with buying a home are not cheap by any stretch of the imagination. One of the most important reasons to have a home inspection when buying a home is the peace of mind that it can provide. The primary purpose of a home inspection is to make sure the home is for the most part a very solid and safe home. By waiving the opportunity to have a home inspection, you may actually be creating additional and unnecessary anxiety and stress. By performing a home inspection, you will have the added peace of mind that you’re purchasing a very solid and safe home.
04
A home inspector can approximate the installation age of major systems in the home like plumbing, heating and cooling, and critical equipment like water heaters. They can diagnose the current condition of the structure itself, and tell you how long finishes have been in the home. All components in the home have a “shelf-life.” Understanding when they require replacement can help you make important budgeting decisions, and it will determine what type of home insurance coverage or warranties you should consider.
05
Skipping out on a home inspection puts the home buyer at significant risk. For many, buying a home will likely be the single largest purchase of their lifetime. A home inspector is an objective third-party consultant acting on the buyer’s behalf, delivering a report about the home’s condition to provide the buyer with vital information to make an educated decision on their purchase.
06
The home inspection report presents an opportunity to ask for repairs and/or request a price reduction or credit from the seller.
07
A home inspection can detect safety issues like carbon monoxide, and mold as well as potential fire hazards and water damage. Make sure that your home-buying contract states that should such hazards be detected, you have the option to cancel the offer to buy.
08
Home inspections can help buyers identify how much additional money or effort they are willing and able to spend to take the home to a condition that is personally acceptable. If you are unwilling to repair issues like faulty gutters, cracked walls, or ceilings, perhaps you are not ready to end your home buying search.
09
Another reason to have a home inspection when buying a home is that it doesn’t cost a lot of money. Since buying a home is such a large investment, the small amount of money it costs for a home inspection should help make the decision easy to have an inspection, even if you feel extremely comfortable with the home you’re purchasing.