Having a comprehensive home inspection is one of the most critical things you can do before you buy. A good home inspector will find problems that aren’t visible to the naked eye, potentially saving you a lot of money in the future on repairs and replacements. You should get the ball rolling on a home inspection as soon as you sign the purchase agreement. Before you do, check out these house inspections tips.
Choose the Right Inspector
You may be tempted to go with the home inspector who charges the least, but that could be a big mistake. Simply asking your real estate agent for a recommendation may also not be enough. Before hiring a home inspector, ask friends, family, and neighbors for recommendations, and vet all inspectors with the American Society of Home Inspectors. Once you’ve narrowed down a list of inspectors, ask each one if they are insured and licensed, if they participate in continuing education and what their training and background is.
One Connecticut home buyer took the recommendation of her real estate agent and never did any further checking. After she paid close to $5,000 for a major plumbing issue that wasn’t found during the inspection. She later discovered that her inspector was new to the industry and her inspection was the first one he had ever done on his own.
Don’t Make Assumptions about New Construction
Just because a new home has been through a bevy of city inspections doesn’t mean it’s all that the sellers makes it out to be. It’s possible that even though the home passed all municipal inspections as far as local ordinances and codes go, a contractor made changes after the inspection that should not have been made. No matter what the builder tells you or how many papers he shows you, always contract with a licensed and experienced home inspector when purchasing either a new home or an existing one.
Attend the Inspection
Even though you will receive a full and detailed written report after your inspection it’s important that you follow the inspector through the home during it. That way, you’ll not only know what issues the house has, but you’ll be able to ask questions to get a full understanding of what’s important and what’s more of a cosmetic issue. Also, some of the home’s core systems, such as the heating and cooling systems, may check out fine and that’s what will be reflected in the report. Inspectors aren’t psychics who can see problems that will crop up in the future, but he can fill you in on the average life span of your home’s systems based on their current condition and configuration.
Even the best home inspectors may cut corners now and again. If there is construction debris blocking their way into the basement, for example, they may be tempted to forego inspecting the area. In the case of snow or rain, they might opt out of inspecting your exterior deck or crawl space. Save yourself some aggravation and future repair bills by always going along with the inspector on your home inspection.
Know What’s Being Tested and What’s Not
One of the top house inspection tips you should be aware of is that your inspector won’t test your new home for every issue there could be. Home inspectors generally inspect and assess structural elements of the home such as the foundation and window alignment, as well as the grounds. They look for septic tank leaks, proper exterior drainage, and the overall condition of the driveway and sidewalks. They’ll also inspect the roof, exterior surfaces, outdoor lighting and the garage. Inside, home inspectors will check the attic, all appliances and home systems as well as the basement.
Every home inspector is different, but in general, they do not check swimming pools, outdoor spas, or hot tubs. They also do not test for the presence of asbestos, radon gas, toxic mold, or lead paint. Don’t make the mistake of thinking that there are no issues with these since they don’t show up on the inspection report. It’s in your best interests to bring in individual specialists to test for these issues before you buy.
Have a Contingency Plan
Just having a home inspection is not enough. You need to have a contingency plan in place in case your inspector discovers major issues with the home. Hopefully, you have made provisions in the purchase agreement that give you some leeway. You can always negotiate with the seller to either make major repairs or discount the purchase price so that you can have the work done, but you need to be prepared in case the seller refuses to budge on fixing things. Your real estate agent or real estate attorney should be able to help you put something into place before you sign anything.
Pay Attention to Your Inspector
Don’t make the rookie mistake of thinking your home inspection is just a formality. Pay attention to what your inspector tells you, and make sure that every issue, no matter how small, is addressed with the seller. Also make sure that you understand what defects are priorities and which are more cosmetic in nature. For example, an aging furnace that’s throwing off carbon monoxide fumes is something that can’t be ignored, but some cracking asphalt on the driveway isn’t usually a big deal in the grand scheme of things.
2 Point Highlight
Even though you will receive a full and detailed written report after your inspection, it’s important that you follow the inspector through the home during it.
Before hiring a home inspector, ask friends, family and neighbors for recommendations, and vet all inspectors with the American Society of Home Inspectors.
