When buying a home, it’s common practice to get an inspection done before you move forward with purchasing the property. This is done to ensure that any hidden issues can be uncovered before they become the responsibility of the new owner. But what do these inspections actually cover? Here’s a list of some of the things home inspectors investigate.
No Such Thing as Perfection
It’s important to remember that no house is perfect. There will be issues with any property you consider buying- even if it’s brand new. Don’t be put off by a long list of items that need to be fixed. Many of these items will be so small, you probably won’t even bother fixing them. Also, remember that an inspection report with a long list of items means your inspector did a really thorough job. That’s a good thing!
Inspections Look into the Following
There’s a reason inspections take anywhere from 2-4 hours. While there, an inspector will look at the heating system, air conditioning system, plumbing and electrical systems, roof, attic, walls, ceilings, floors, windows, doors, structural components, basement, and the foundation. They will take notes and pictures of all the areas that aren’t totally up to snuff.
The housing market has been extremely competitive in the last couple years. So much so, in fact, that many buyers have been waiving home inspections altogether. This means the financial burden associated with fixing any issues falls 100% on the buyer. When you uncover defects during an inspection, you have the opportunity to go back to your seller and negotiate money back on your offer. You can also forego any money back and instead as them to pay to fix any serious issues. Waiving a home inspection puts an increased amount of risk on you and your new investment. It’s a dicey move!
Don’t Be Shy
It’s not uncommon for home buyers to be present during home inspections. It gives you an opportunity to explore your new home. You can ask questions and see any issues for yourself. Talking to your inspector face- to- face will give you a lot more information than you’ll get by simply reading the report. Don’t sweep anything under the rug. If you notice something, point it out to the inspector. Any issues found can be used as leverage in order to negotiate money off of the sale price. Also, you don’t want to miss anything! You want to know exactly what you’re getting yourself into before you make such a massive purchase.
More Detail
In the interest of being thorough, you can also get additional inspections done. An article written by Peter Warden for themortgagereports.com explains, “Careful buyers – or ones alerted to potential problems by the inspector – may want to commission further home inspection reports from specialists concerning the possible presence of radon, termite infestations, asbestos, lead piping or paint, mold, water damage, other safety issues.”
The moral of the story- don’t waive your home inspection.
