Why You Need A Home Inspection
The importance of a home inspection
Before purchasing a new home, it is vital that you make sure the property is in good shape. The best, most effective way to do this is to get a home inspection. This will give you confidence in the home and help you to avoid costly repairs down the road.
What a home inspector does
A home inspector is going to come to your property and inspect its condition. They will primarily focus on the structure and operating systems on the home. They will then give you a written report on what they found.
The inspector will look over things like the plumbing, roof, electrics, furnace or HVAC system, the foundation and other factors.
The home inspector will not only tell you what is wrong with the home. They will also tell you how to take care of the problems and the approximate costs of repair.
You will also be told whether:
- The problem is a major defect, a safety issue or a minor defect
- Exactly what needs to be replaced and repaired
- What items do not need replacement but that should be monitored
Don’t waste the time you have with the inspector, ask plenty of questions and take the time to understand the systems and other things being looked at. This knowledge can help you down the line.
Inspecting the exterior
A home inspection does not end at the inside of the home. The inspector will also carefully look over the exterior as well.
He or she will examine the following outside:
Exterior walls- Looking for missing or cracked siding, how close the soil is to the bottom of the house and bug damage.
Foundation- If they cannot see the foundation they will look for other tell tale signs of damage. Such as cracks or settling.
Grading- You will be told if you have suitable grading or if water is in danger of entering the home.
Garage/carport- Venting and usability will be examined closely. Ventilation is important to avoid accidental carbon monoxide poisoning. He or she will also check out the water heater if it is located in your garage. They will make sure it is the proper distance from the ground to avoid an explosion.
Roof- This will be checked for damage to the shingles and any vents. The gutters will also be checked.
Benefits of getting an inspection
If you are buying a home, you cannot afford to not get an inspection done. You need to be able to have confidence in your investment and you can’t do that until you get to know it.
If you are selling your home, it is a good idea to get it inspected before you list it. This way you can take care of any repairs or replacements before homebuyers come through. This could lead to more people wanting to buy your home since it is in such good shape. Especially if you use the inspection report as a marketing tool.
When the inspection is over
Once the inspection process has been completed and you have a list of what needs to be repaired you can decide if you want to be proactive and take care of these things or leave them. If they are too expensive for you to take care of now you can always take the repairs into consideration when choosing a listing price. Knocking off the cost of the repairs can go a long way to making things up to potential buyers.
It is a good idea to discuss these things with your realtor. He or she will be able to give you further guidance.