Many first-time home buyers are taking advantage of the first-time home buyer tax credit. You know, the one everyone has been talking about so much lately? Any first-time home buyer can purchase a home and deduct $8,000 or 10%, whichever is lesser, off the total value of the home. Since many of these first-time buyers have ever owned a home before, I thought I would take the opportunity to get the word out about the importance of a home inspection and how it can minimize unpleasant surprises.
A home inspection will help home buyers learn as much as they possibly can about the home's faults or any major needed repairs that can be very unpleasant and most of the time unexpected difficulties. For those home buyers who are seeking to purchase short sales or foreclosures because it may look like the better deal, it is more important for you to have a home inspection done. It is a true risk not to have a home inspection done under any circumstances.
In a home inspector's report, you can expect to find the following covered:
* The condition of the home's central air conditioning system
* The home's heating system
* Interior plumbing
* Electrical systems
* The roof
* The attic and its insulation
* The foundation
* The basement
* Structural components
* Walls, ceilings, floors, windows and doors
The inspector will give you a report of any components in the home that are not functioning correctly at the end of their service life and anything that may be unsafe. A home inspector is also a neutral party in the buying/selling process. They will only give you professional advice that you should listen to.
If you have already made an offer on a home but haven't closed yet, you can still hire a home inspector. You can then have your offer be contingent on the findings of the inspection. Depending on what the inspector finds, you may be able to renegotiate your offer.
I can't emphasize the importance of a home inspection enough. It can save you so much heartache and financial hardship if you just know what to expect.
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