Hiring a Home Inspector - A Smart Decision!

Having a home inspection is an essential part of the home-buying process.  Purchasing a home without a proper home inspection would be similar to buying a car without looking under the hood or taking it for a test drive.  Any reputable real estate agent will urge you to include a home inspection clause on any offers that you submit.  A home inspection will not only give you peace of mind about the biggest purchase of your life, it could also keep you from making one of the most expensive mistakes you could potentially make!

What You Should Be Getting For Your Money

A proper home inspector will go through a property's interior and exterior to identify any safety, construction or maintenence problems.  They may also find areas that need further specialized inspection.

A home inspection should include all of the following areas:

• Roof                         
• Walls
• Windows
• Doors
• Insulation
• Crawlspace or Attic
• Electrical
• Plumbing
• Heating and Cooling systems
• Appliances

When all these areas have been fully inspected, a home inspector should provide a written comprehensive report on his or her findings and also discuss them with the home owner if possible.

A Few Important Things About Home Inspections

• No home, condo, townhouse or apartment is perfect! Do not expect a perfectly clean inspection. It is not uncommon for a home inspector to find many issues with a home.
• Just because a report comes back showing faults in the home does not mean it "fails".  A good quality home inspector will explain the problem, how you could fix it, and how much it may cost you.  An inspector will also be able to let you know if it is a deal breaker or not and how you could possibly negotiate with the selling agent.
• Though an inspector should try their best to find any potential problems further down the road, the report they issue is not a warranty.  An inspector will produce a thorough report on what he or she finds the day of the inspection, but they cannot predict problems that may arise in the future.

Find a Professional

A home inspection is, like many other important things in life, best left to a professional.  A good quality home inspector has the knowledge to identify various different components of structural, electrical, and plumbing construction and pick out any problems.  The average home buyer does not posses the knowledge to inspect their own home and is often dealing with the emotional factor of the  purchase at the same time.

Although a home buyer should not conduct their own home inspection, it is recommended to be present at the time of the walk through.  It is important to ask questions and see some of the good and possibly bad parts of the home for yourself.

Finding a Quality Home Inspector

When you find yourself in need of a home inspection, your real estate agent should be able to recommend a company or individual that they have worked with before.  If you choose to find one yourself, make sure they are certified and have plenty of experience.

The price of a home inspection can vary but is usually well under $1,000.  A home inspection may cost a little upfront but can likely save you a lot of money, not to mention headaches, in the long run.

If you are ready to start your house hunt or have already started, you don't have to do it alone. Hire a home inspector to provide you with knowledge confidence throughout your search!