A home inspection is usually mandatory when purchasing a new home. It is there to protect the buyer from all of the pitfalls that can go along with purchasing a new home. In most states, all of the systems have to be functional in order for the sale to go through. Water, heat, and electricity must be available unless a specific clause is written into the contract that acknowledges the buyer's awareness of a faulty system along with his or her willingness to correct the problem. In such cases the estimated cost of repair is taken off of the cost of the home.
A home inspection can also alert you to other problems as well. A leaky roof or an infestation of termites might not be noticed immediately by the buyer. In fact, many homeowners live with termites and other infestations without ever realizing it until the damage has become so great that it's impossible to deny. A leaky roof can drip into the walls. Depending on the location of the roof's corners the leak may even go just past the outer wall of the house. Without an actual inspection you may not catch the issue until there is a lot of damage caused by water leaking down into the walls.
You can count on a home inspection to point out more than just the general deal breakers. A good inspector will alert you to potential problems or things that will need to be dealt with in time. These issues may not be of immediate concern but it's always a good idea to know when there is the potential for a developing problem. You'll know to keep an eye on that potential and act accordingly if you start to notice worsening signs of damage.
It's also good to know that your foundation is in good shape. A sinking or sliding foundation can be a huge problem in the future. A home inspector can look at the integrity of the foundation, any movement that is showing up, or whether the house and foundation are starting to separate. These problems can be quite costly to fix so it's good to know before there's an insurmountable problem facing you. Usually the inspector can make suggestions or recommendations regarding calling a reputable service to come and provide an estimate for the repairs needed.
Using a home inspection as a sense of security before purchasing a house is always recommended even if it's not required. Anywhere that it is required be sure to use a high quality inspector and be extra careful that he or she is not tied to any businesses that offers repairs on the homes that are being inspected.
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