When you've found the right home in Cortessa or elsewhere, it's sound advice to have it inspected before you commit to buy. There's a reason that virtually every real estate purchase offer contains a home inspection contingency -- you don't want to purchase a truck-load of buyer's remorse. In fact, home inspections are so common that 99 percent of licensed real estate professionals recommend them and 77 percent of all homebuyers had an inspection prior to purchasing, according to the National Association of Realtors and American Society of Home Inspectors. While you may worry that an inspection will turn-up big problems, only 16 percent of licensed real estate professionals report this occurring. That means 84 percent of all home inspections pass without finding deal-breakers.
Biggest Home Inspection Mistakes
Though these facts are certainly positive, the quality and accuracy of a home inspection is what's most critical. This is why it's important to hire the right inspector. Your real estate agent will likely have recommendations. Get at least three names and then check each out. Start by verifying licenses on the official state site. Next, do a quick search of the local Better Business Bureau, followed by a search of the local clerk of the court's office.
Buyers need to realize that all of the expenses renters never have to worry about, such as homeowner’s insurance and closing costs, may end up being as much as a down payment. And that’s not even including all the unseen maintenance fees. --CNBC.com
Once you've decided which one to hire, you'll want to get the most out of the inspection. What you don't want to do is to make any of these home inspection mistakes:
- Not having new construction or newly built home inspected. Just because a home is new doesn't mean that it's free of defects. Though a home might pass building codes, it won't necessarily pass a home inspection. No matter the age or type of property, it's smart to be in-the-know to avoid problems in the future.
- Not being present for the inspection. Some homebuyers leave this up to their agent. While it's good to have your agent present, you too, ought to be there during the inspection. This is helpful because the inspector will be able to show and explain things so you understand what's in the report.
- Not acting on the home inspector's advice. Buying a home is exciting and it's understandable that you want to wrap the deal up as quickly as possible. However, not heading the inspector's advice is a very risky proposition. Even seemingly minor problems can be a big deal.
- Not having utilities on. A home inspector examines all major systems on the property, which include electrical wiring and plumbing. To detect any issues, the utilities must be on at the time of the inspection. Otherwise, the inspection will have to be rescheduled and this can delay the closing.
Another big mistake is to believe the home inspector can see clearly into the future. The inspection is a snapshot of a home but it isn't a guarantee there won't be future problems. When the inspector is finished, you ought to ask about potential issues you might face later on. If there are any, consult your buyer's agent.
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