“We know that when people are safe in their homes, they are free to pursue their dream for a brighter economic future for themselves and their families.”– George Pataki
The thought of our home instills in us the feelings of warmth, comfort and security. When you have made your mind up about purchasing a new home, it is your responsibility to find something which is safe and sound.
Whether you are building a house or purchasing a resale property, a home inspection is necessary to find out the condition of the property. A certified inspector is the right person to talk to about the strengths and weaknesses of the property before you commit yourself to buying the house. Unwanted surprises are the last thing you want during the home-buying process and an inspection will protect you from facing unnecessary hurdles. Let’s take a look at some important things buyers should consider when planning to inspect your house from reliable inspectors.
- Inspection is important but optional: Although a building inspection is optional, it is an important step in the home buying process. Broadly speaking, inspections are a great way to find out about any hidden problems of the property you are planning to buy. Often, it will enable you to negotiate the price with the seller and cover the expenses associated with any necessary home repairs. It will give you an overall idea if it’s a wise choice to purchase the property or move on to a better option that will fulfill your requirements.
However, there are some possible exceptions for condos where maintenance is mainly covered by a body corporate. In this case, it would be wise to look at any body corporate documents to see what maintenance is covered. Before deciding to opt for a home inspection, you should consider the level of repairs that you are willing to take on yourself before walking away from the property.
- Buyers should go for the inspection: Sometimes, buyers fail to understand the importance of home inspections before purchasing a property. They need to hire the services of an inspector, get the home inspection done within a specific time and pay for the service themselves. It is not a last-minute task; rather you ought to devote sufficient time in getting your home inspected by a reliable inspector.
You should set an estimated budget for the cost of a home inspection service. Although there is an additional cost to hire an inspector, paying for the service will be a wise investment on your real estate and will give you peace of mind that you purchased the right home.
- Inspector must have proper certificate: Your inspector must have proper certificate and special training on how to determine minor and major problems in the house. Alhough others may miss trivial problems in your home easily, the inspector should not overlook them. Only a certified professional must do the home inspection. Although the qualified inspectors may charge more than a handyman that you know, they will provide you with a detailed report of the home inspection with all the pro’s and con’s.
In order to find a reliable home inspector, you can look at different sources including referrals from your family and friends, your real estate agent, and looking online. Going with a referral will provide some reliable contacts from past dealings. If searching online, ask the inspector how many years experience they have, how many inspections they have done, if they are registered builders, and if they have any additional technology like thermal imaging to find hidden flaws in the home.
- Ask for an inspection report: Inspections aren’t complete without an elaborate report. The entire process involves providing the buyer with an inspection report that outlines in detail about their findings in written form. It should have pictures of damaged or weak areas and parts that need to be repaired in the house. It is a good idea to request the inspector to send you the report directly. Make two copies of the inspection report – use one copy and save another copy for the future if you ever need it.
You must read the entire report thoroughly before negotiating on necessary repairs and renovations. Ask questions if you do not understand any part of the report. Use a highlighter to note down the sections of the report that are extremely important to you. This way, it will be quite easy to refer back to them when discussing about repairs in the future.
With a thorough home inspection, you can be assured that you are buying a great property. Doing so will minimize unpleasant surprises and will help you make a smart investment by spending your hard-earned dollars in purchasing the perfect home.