A question home inspectors, as well as the real estate agents who recommend us to their clients, get asked a lot is, “Why should I have a home inspection?” Usually, this question is asked by first-time home buyers or someone who purchased their last home 30 years ago, before home inspections were really a thing. The truth is, a home inspection is one of the most important parts of the home buying process. Skipping out on a home inspection to save a few hundred dollars could be one of the costliest decisions you can make when deciding to purchase a home. Here are 5 reasons why you should have a home inspection by someone professionally trained in what to look for.
1. You Gain a Wealth of Knowledge About a Home and its Components
A good inspection report provides you with a wealth of knowledge about a home and its components. It should tell you the type of foundation the home has, the type of roof structure and covering materials, the type of materials that make up the interior and exterior walls, the type and thickness of the insulation in the attic, the static water pressure, the brand, age, and size of the HVAC and water heating units, the brand of the appliances, information about the electrical panels and sub-panels, and much more. When considering the purchase of a new home, you should know what makes up the home and its components. You should know what you’re buying. A quality home inspection will provide this information at your fingertips.
2. Failures and Deficiencies are Discovered
The last thing you want to do right after moving into your home is discover that you will have to spend more money to fix something that wasn’t apparent to you before closing on the home. Maybe you go to use the dishwasher for the first time and discover that it isn’t working, you try to use the hot water for the first time and discover that the water heater is out, you discover that there is hail damage to the roof and the roof need replaced, or you discover that a pier helping to support a load-bearing wall is failing. The list of possibilities are endless. A professional home inspector should inspect the entire house from the foundation to the roof and operate the appliances to make sure they are performing. Any failures or deficiencies should be noted in the inspection report that you receive. This will make you better informed and help mitigate costly surprises after moving in.
3. Safety Hazards are Discovered
Above having to spend money for repairs, the safety of you and your family is most important. Over the years, codes change to improve home safety. So, things that were once acceptable may no longer be acceptable. On top of that, people often make dangerous “southern engineered” DIY repairs in order to save a few bucks. A professional home inspector is trained to look for hazards. To name a few, shock hazards, such as unprotected electrical outlets by showers and bathtubs, unbonded appliances, junction boxes with missing covers, and exposed or unterminated wires. Fire hazards such as arcing or double tapped electrical panels, improper installation or damaged flues and chimneys, and the lack of fire blocking materials separating the garage and the attic from the rest of the home. Tripping hazards such as uneven sidewalks or porches, high thresholds, or uneven/loose stairs. Carbon Monoxide hazards such as gas leaks, gas appliances installed in improper locations, and improper or damage seals between the garage and the rest of the home. Again, these types of hazards should be noted in the inspection report that you receive.
4. Helps Save Money and Health
Stemming off of points 2 and 3, having your home inspected by a professional home inspector can help save you hundreds or even thousands of dollars, not to mention the safety of you and your family, which is priceless. A home inspector informed a couple that the roof on the house they were planning to purchase had hail damage. The sellers were unaware of this, but were able to use their insurance to have the roof replaced. They were happy because their insurance took care of the costs and they were able to sell the house. The buyers were happy because they were made aware of the problem before the purchase, which saved them thousands of dollars on a new roof. Additionally, when a buyer is made aware of failures or deficiencies during their option period, they can negotiate with the sellers to have them remedied as part of the purchase. So, spend a few hundred to have your home inspected. In the long-run, you will most likely save a lot more than you spent for the home inspection.
5. Provides Confidence in Your Investment
When purchasing a home, you are spending thousands, maybe even hundreds of thousands. You should be confident that you are making an investment in the right home for you and your family. Having the knowledge that a home inspection provides can provide peace of mind and confidence that you are making the right choice. Buyers remorse is a real thing. You do not want to go through the process of purchasing a home to regret your decision a few months down the road and have to sell. When the buyer gets a home inspection, like you should have done, and discovers the deficiencies that gave you remorse about buying the home, chances are, you will get lower offers for the home or the buyer will want you to pay for the repairs. You may not get what you paid for the house. Protect your investment. Go the extra mile to make sure you are confident in the home you plan to purchase.
It just makes sense to have a home inspection. The real question should be, “Why wouldn’t you have a home inspection?” Spend a few hundred dollars and have your home inspected before purchasing it… And don’t go cheap on the inspector either! Hire a professional who will do a thorough job, who will provide you with a clean, detailed report, who will go through the report with you and answer your questions, who will give you maintenance tips on how to get the most out of your investment. You will be glad you did.
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