Buyers~~Why You Need a Home Inspection

Buyers, buying a home can be a great experience.  As we look at homes we will pay careful attention to the home that you will be making an offer on.  As a team we will look at cosmetic issues, we will look for things that might be wrong with the house and we will get a basic overall good feel as to whether this house that you are considering makes good financial sense. But no matter how thorough we are in our inspection I will always recommend a home inspection. 

A home inspection is conducted by a third party.  I recommend a licensed and insured home inspector.  I think their experience should be considered, along with their background when choosing your home inspector. I believe a good home inspector will provide a written report with a guidebook of some sort for the purchaser to review post closing. I also think the home inspector should provide photos of their findings for you to look at after the fact.

A good home inspection will examine your future home from the top to the bottom.  As they examine the home they will take notes and make comments about items of concern and items of strength.  As they examine the home it is the perfect opportunity for you as a buyer to ask questions, to clarify comments, to learn about your home.  The home inspection is for you to learn all about your future home.  Take your time looking at and thinking about the home that you will be buying, this is your review time.

Now, most sellers aren't promising you a perfect home.  So many of the items that are uncovered on the home inspection may ultimately be your responsibility to fix.  It is especially important during these times to understand the defects that the property has.  In most contracts we have the ability to ask the seller to remedy home inspection defects.  I often see plumbing, electrical and mechanical items on this list.  Often we uncover things the seller didn't know existed, and sometimes we uncover things that the seller has just lived with. 

And yes, sometimes large items are uncovered: foundation problems, roofing problems, heating and cooling problems top the list for items that are uncovered on a home inspection.  These often are very expensive to fix and create situations where we as a team determine the best course of action for you and this home. 

Home inspections cost money up front, before the home is yours. It is a small price to pay for peace of mind that the home you are buying will not be a money pit you weren't prepared for.  Buyers, for so many reasons I believe you need a home inspection and when you hire me to be your buyer's agent I will make sure that your option for a home inspection is protected.