The Importance of the Home Inspection

The home inspection is a crucial step in buying a house. I could say it a thousand times. It's crucial. Without it, you're a vulnerable target - um, I mean, buyer. So many folks forgo the home inspection procedure. They do this to satisfy the vendor or to save money. Many believe that the house seems to be in great shape and that is enough. Some confuse the thought of an appraisal with a review.

One question: Can you buy a car without test driving it first?

That is what you're doing when you buy a home. You haven't lived inside. You do not know what does and does not work. You're just buying it based on appearances. You know nothing about what's beneath the hood. And the 1 way to find out whether your Rolls Royce might be a gas guzzler would be to get the house inspected by a professional home inspector.

But do not just turn the house over to an inspector. You will need to be there also. Have a pad and pen and be ready to ask questions. You're better able to comprehend the last report and the house by being there in person. Ask the inspector to demonstrate how specific items work. Can you keep yourself or should you hire an expert? How long do they generally last? What state are they in now? I know you'll find some of those answers in the report, but you need to ask them too. This reinforces everything.

Have the inspector inform you the top 3 issues with the house as it stands. He may or may not provide an opinion on whether he would purchase the home. Bear in mind, this is not his job. Many will continue to keep their opinions to themselves concerning the purchaseprice.

Too-many men and women are giving up on the traditional home inspection. However, it remains an important tool for both the seller and buyer. The purchaser will get peace of mind and a comprehensive understanding of their property while the seller receives protection from future lawsuits. But bear in mind that inspectors can only discover what they detect. They can miss things. But they'll catch more than the untrained person will.

Read the inspector's report carefully. Use the information on the report to make your choice. You may make your purchase contract determined by the home inspection report, much in the way it's contingent upon appraisal. Or, you could ask that the property be inspected before the first offer to the seller. This often works in slower markets where the purchaser has the control. It'll cost you, but it might save you in time spent pursuing a home which you don't purchase in the long run.