The Home Inspection
One of the most expensive and important purchases that you will make in your life time is the purchase of your home. Before you buy a home, one of the things you should do is to have the home checked out by a professional home inspector. Buying a home is expensive, yet getting a home inspection is not required. You really shouldn’t waive this optional procedure.
First of all it can be used as a contingency on your offer to purchases which provides that if there are significant defects or items too expensive to fix, that are revealed by a home inspector, you can back out of your offer, without any penalty, as long a you abide by the time frames in the offer. Second, once you have the home inspection report you can ask the seller to fix them, reduce the sales price, or give you a cash credit at closing to fix the problems yourself.
A home inspector will afford you an opportunity to
- Identify potential concerns of safety
- Evaluate the home’s condition
- Determine which items need replacement, repair, or serviced
- Consider possible upgrades, future repairs, or items to be monitored closely
- Evaluate your investment decision
- Have peace of mind in knowing that you future home has been thoroughly inspected by a certified home inspector
- Review the detailed report that has pictures and a summary of the items listed above.
The home inspection will cost you a little bit of time and money, but in the long run it can save you a lot more.
Be sure you choose a home inspector who is thorough and certified. Your Realtor should be able to provide you with at least three referrals. Call them, interview them and select the one you feel would represent your best interests. The home inspector should, at the minimum, be a member of one of the major certifying bodies such as the National Association of Home Inspectors, International Association of Certified home Inspectors, (NACHI) or the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI). They must also have error and omission and general liability insurance.
Areas inspected include:
- Structural
- Foundation
- Exterior
- Grounds
- Roofing
- Attic
- Plumbing
- Electrical
- Heating and Air Conditioning
- Fireplaces
- Interior
- Basement and Crawl Spaces
- Insulation and Ventilation
- Bathroom’s
- Kitchen
- Built-in Appliances
- And more
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