A well-staged house might be hiding a dirty little secret. Black mold. Fire damage. Shoddy home improvements. Pet stains below the carpet. You can’t always tell the true condition of a home just by walking through, but it’s hard to hide damage from a home inspector.
If you are buying a home, getting a home inspection is one of the single-most important “checks” you need to conduct to make sure the home is safe and secure. An inspection can be several hundred dollars, but uncovering what lies within before you own the house has several advantages.
- Peace of mind – you’ll know moving in the actual condition of your new home.
- Negotiation tool – if there are issues that need to be corrected, you can lower your offer price or ask the seller to fix the problems prior to closing.
- Easy out – if the inspection reveals issues that are too big or unsettling, you can opt out of buying the house.
- Plan for the future – the inspection may reveal minor updates that don’t pose safety issues that you may be able to address down the road.
The inspector will take several hours to fully inspect a home. You may be able to be in the home while the inspector works. If not, you should receive a detailed report that includes plumbing, electrical, mechanical and roof analyses. You inspector can usually tell you how many years you can wait before replacing a roof or major appliances or mechanicals including hot water heater and air conditioning unit. You might also be required to have a termite inspection.
Purchasing a home is one of the biggest financial investments you’ll make. Take the extra step to have an inspection and protect yourself from moving into a money pit.