You are about to make the largest investment in your life. Does it not make sense to get a professional home inspection that could protect you from buying a "money pit?
It is never a good idea to purchase anything without knowing exactly what you are getting for your money.
If you are considering buying a home, a thorough home inspection performed by professional inspector will give you an idea of the condition of the house and alert you to any potential problems that can come after the sale is complete.
As an example, if an air conditioning system is not running efficiently, a thorough home inspection would alert you to the fact that you may have higher than normal electric bills during the season. It may also suggest the unit may need to be replaced in the near future . A new system can cost as much as $5000+. Being aware of this information ahead of time could affect your decision to purchase this home.
Professional home inspectors go through an extensive amount of time in training and experience that cannot be attained in any other way, including home construction experience. The professional home inspector performs 300 to 400 inspections per year and goes through many hours of continuing education.
Only a trained, experienced professional home inspector has the experience and trained eye to be able to check the many systems associated with a home.
There are thousands of variables that need to be checked during a home inspection and only a professional home inspector has the ability to understand the whole picture.
It takes 3-4 hours to complete a thorough home inspection. A normal home inspection consists of the structural system, roof system, exterior, plumbing system, electrical system, heating and air conditioning system, interior, insulation, ventilation, fireplace, foundation, and sometimes specialized tests to detect carbon monoxide, radon, and black mold. Also, a separate termite inspection may need to be performed.
Using a professional home inspector report makes it easier for price negotiations over items that are listed on the inspector's report. It will give the buyer and the seller some options as to final price or getting repairs made before closing. It is really hard for a seller to argue with a professional home inspectors report that is a detailed list of items that need to be addressed. The end results is that the buyer does not have to have out-of-pocket expenses after closing.
Keep in mind that a home inspection is in large part, a visual inspection, and if, for example, there is furniture against the wall blocking evidence of water or termite damage, a home inspector cannot move the furniture to take a closer look. A professional inspector will make a notation on the final report when an area of the home was inaccessible.
It is important that when looking for a professional home inspector, the lowest price should never be your deciding factor. In fact, in most cases, a quality, professional home inspector will in all likelihood be the most expensive. There are primarily two reasons for a low priced home inspection: lack of experience or lack of quality. You do not want to be the "beta test" for a new or inexperienced home inspector.
Even though most top producing real estate agents are generally honest people, it is a good idea for you to select your own professional home inspector. This is your money, not the real estate agents.
It is highly recommended that you be present during your home inspection. Being present helps you not only feel comfortable with the quality of the final report but also aids you an understanding the evaluation, because a professional home inspector will take the time to discuss any and all defects that were found and answer any of your questions regarding the inspection and possible maintenance recommendations.
Don,t let your home purchase experience become more stressful than it has to be. You can make the experience a lot more pleasant and have greater peace of mind with a professional home inspection.
You do not want to say later, "I wish I would have hired a professional home inspector" when a major problem is discovered after the purchase.
It is never a good idea to purchase anything without knowing exactly what you are getting for your money.
If you are considering buying a home, a thorough home inspection performed by professional inspector will give you an idea of the condition of the house and alert you to any potential problems that can come after the sale is complete.
As an example, if an air conditioning system is not running efficiently, a thorough home inspection would alert you to the fact that you may have higher than normal electric bills during the season. It may also suggest the unit may need to be replaced in the near future . A new system can cost as much as $5000+. Being aware of this information ahead of time could affect your decision to purchase this home.
Professional home inspectors go through an extensive amount of time in training and experience that cannot be attained in any other way, including home construction experience. The professional home inspector performs 300 to 400 inspections per year and goes through many hours of continuing education.
Only a trained, experienced professional home inspector has the experience and trained eye to be able to check the many systems associated with a home.
There are thousands of variables that need to be checked during a home inspection and only a professional home inspector has the ability to understand the whole picture.
It takes 3-4 hours to complete a thorough home inspection. A normal home inspection consists of the structural system, roof system, exterior, plumbing system, electrical system, heating and air conditioning system, interior, insulation, ventilation, fireplace, foundation, and sometimes specialized tests to detect carbon monoxide, radon, and black mold. Also, a separate termite inspection may need to be performed.
Using a professional home inspector report makes it easier for price negotiations over items that are listed on the inspector's report. It will give the buyer and the seller some options as to final price or getting repairs made before closing. It is really hard for a seller to argue with a professional home inspectors report that is a detailed list of items that need to be addressed. The end results is that the buyer does not have to have out-of-pocket expenses after closing.
Keep in mind that a home inspection is in large part, a visual inspection, and if, for example, there is furniture against the wall blocking evidence of water or termite damage, a home inspector cannot move the furniture to take a closer look. A professional inspector will make a notation on the final report when an area of the home was inaccessible.
It is important that when looking for a professional home inspector, the lowest price should never be your deciding factor. In fact, in most cases, a quality, professional home inspector will in all likelihood be the most expensive. There are primarily two reasons for a low priced home inspection: lack of experience or lack of quality. You do not want to be the "beta test" for a new or inexperienced home inspector.
Even though most top producing real estate agents are generally honest people, it is a good idea for you to select your own professional home inspector. This is your money, not the real estate agents.
It is highly recommended that you be present during your home inspection. Being present helps you not only feel comfortable with the quality of the final report but also aids you an understanding the evaluation, because a professional home inspector will take the time to discuss any and all defects that were found and answer any of your questions regarding the inspection and possible maintenance recommendations.
Don,t let your home purchase experience become more stressful than it has to be. You can make the experience a lot more pleasant and have greater peace of mind with a professional home inspection.
You do not want to say later, "I wish I would have hired a professional home inspector" when a major problem is discovered after the purchase.