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 Many people wonder if they really need a home inspection. Home inspections are
an added expense and usually optional, but experts highly recommend them.
Imagine moving into your dream home only to discover the air conditioning is not
able to cool the house. Or, what if you move in during the middle of winter,
only to discover the heat is not working.
If you are planning to put in
an offer on a home, make sure the offer includes a detailed statement regarding
your rights to a home inspection. Your real estate professional will be able to
guide you through this process. The standard contract used by real estate agents
may give you the right to back out of a contract if a home inspection uncovers
more problems you are prepared to handle. Be sure to discuss this with your
agent before you get to the point of making an offer on a home. If the contract
does not allow you to back out of the deal, look into having a contingency added
to the contract. But be sure this is done before you get to the point of signing
anything.
Don’t assume the seller will be willing to make every repair
you want. They may refuse to make any repairs. Read your contract carefully
before you sign anything. Make sure you know the rights and obligations of all
parties involved. Never depend on a verbal agreement. In order for an agreement
to be considered valid, it has to be in written form.
 Many homebuyers have found themselves in the difficult position of
being “deeply in love” with a home only to discover a host of problems. A home
inspector will be able to look at the home objectively to give you an unbiased
opinion regarding the home. With a home inspector, you will get the facts. The
facts are what you need to make a decision about whether or not you wish to go
forward with the purchase of the home. In the end, you are the only one who can
decide if you have the time, energy, and financial resources to devote to your
home. However, don’t forget that a home inspection which uncovers safety issues
can help you prioritize any needed repairs.
If you are purchasing a brand
new home, don’t assume that it is problem-free. In a perfect world this would be
true.
Here are just a few examples of things you should check during the
home inspection:
• Turn all lights on and off several times.
• Turn the
water and look under sinks for leaks.
• Test all appliances.
• Check the
garage door openers.
• Open and close all doors and windows.
• Flush the
toilets.
• Inspect ceilings, walls, and floors.
• Run the garbage disposal
and exhaust fans.
• Test the heating and air conditioning.
• Make sure all
debris is removed from the home.
Talk to people who have had a home
inspection recently. Did they have a positive experience? Would they recommend
their home inspector? Also, ask your real estate agent for the names of local
home inspectors. Your agent can be (and should be) a fountain of helpful
information. Utilize them.
Before you get started...
Here are some questions you should ask
your potential home inspector:
1. What systems are covered through the home
inspection?
2. Are there some services which require and extra fee, such as a
septic system inspection? (FHA and VA financing require a septic system
inspection.)
3. Will you receive a written report with photos of problem
areas? You should ask for one, along with a checklist showing the results for
all systems evaluated. It should also include reports written in paragraph
form.
4. Ask for a time estimate. A thorough inspection can take three to
five hours or possibly more.
If possible, attend the home inspection.
Home inspections report all problems they find, no matter how minor. It is easy
to get over-excited about something that is a minor problem if you do not have
an understanding of what is really happening. If you see the inspection
first-hand, this will help to alleviate some stress and give you an immediate
account of what the home inspector finds. Many experts advise potential buyers
to inspect the home before the official home inspection, if possible.
 Make sure your home inspection includes environmental inspections. Test
the water to be sure it is safe for drinking, cooking, etc. Your home should be
tested for radon, a radioactive gas which has been found in homes across the
United States. It is estimated that nearly of out of every fifteen home in the
US has elevated radon levels. In the event testing reveals a high level of
radon, mitigation systems costing from $800-$2,000 can be installed to correct
the problem.
Also, be sure you test for lead. Over 75% of the nation’s
housing contains lead-based paint because it was used extensively for many years
in residential painting, and was not banned until 1978.
Visit
www.hometest.com for more information about testing for water safety, radon, and
lead in your home.
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