When you are buying a home, one of the most important decisions you, the buyer will make is whether or not you need home inspection as part of the home buying process. Some people choose to forgo this step, thinking that it is an unnecessary expense. However, there are many benefits to getting a home inspector to inspect the home before you purchase a property. In this blog post, we will discuss some of the reasons why you should hire a professional home inspector to look at your potential new home.
Benefits of a home inspection:
1. Peace of mind.
One of the main reasons to get a home inspection is for your own peace of mind. When you know that someone has looked at the house and found no major issues, it can help put your mind at ease. This is especially important if you are buying an older home which could have some costly issues. Although new homes are not guaranteed to be free of problems and defects.
2. Save you money.
Another benefit of a home inspection is that it can save you money in the long run. If there are any problems with the house found during the inspection they can be addressed before you buy the home. This can save you from having to make costly repairs down the road. Or if you find the problems are more than you are willing to deal with you can decide not to purchase the home
3. Give you negotiating power.
If the home inspection finds any problems with the house, you will have bargaining power when it comes to negotiating the purchase price with the seller. This is because the seller can decide to either fix the issues or lower the price of the home to compensate for them relative to the repair costs. The seller is not obligated to fix or offer a lower priced for the home. Consult your real estate agent for more information on how to negotiate after the home inspection. Just remember, the inspection report is key to negotiations.
4. Help you avoid a bad purchase.
Perhaps one of the most important benefits of an inspection is that it can help you avoid making a bad purchase. If there are any major problems with the house, you will know about them before you buy the home. This can save you from a lot of heartache and financial stress.
5. Help you understand the condition of the property.
Another benefit of a home inspection is that it can give you a better understanding of the condition of the house and if any repairs are needed. The home inspector will provide you with an inspection report that details any problems that were found, as well as their severity. This information can be very helpful when negotiating the price or planning renovations etc.
Inspection problems:
1. Structural problems
One of the most common problems found during home inspections is structural issues. This can include things like cracks in the foundation, roof issues, or problems with the framing (walls) of the house. These types of issues can be very expensive to repair. It is important to be aware of them before you purchase your future home.
2. Electrical problems
Another common problem that is found during home inspections is electrical issues. This can include things like outdated wiring or problems with the electrical panel. These types of issues can be very dangerous, and need to be addressed before you take possession.
3. Plumbing problems
Plumbing issues are also relatively common in older homes and come up quite often in home inspections. This can include things like water or drain line leaks, clogs, or problems with the sewer line. These types of issues can be very costly to repair, so it is important to be aware of them before you buy a property.
4. Heating and cooling system problems
Problems with the heating (furnace) and cooling system (air conditioning) are also relatively common. This can include things like outdated or malfunctioning systems, leaks, or damaged equipment. Being prepared for these types of issues is important as they can be very expensive to repair.
After the inspection:
While some of these problems may seem minor, they can actually be quite serious and expensive to fix. By getting a thorough inspection by a certified home inspector can identify significant problems, safety issues, water damage, and other potential problems which are considered necessary repairs. Most homes will have some minor issues and defects which are expected and these are usually identified by the home inspectors in the report.
See the post on the full home inspection process
As you can see, there are many good reasons to hire a home inspection before purchasing your future home. If you are on the fence about whether or not to get one, we hope that this blog post has helped you make a decision.
