Home Inspections Matter

By Morgana Gunt


Many buyers try to skip thorough home inspection, only to end up regretting it later when problems become apparent; however, this is one of the most important steps before purchasing a home. You want to make sure you get a good one when you need a home inspection.

A home inspection evaluates the current condition of a house through a professional and objective evaluation. Home inspections are typically part of the home buying process, most often performed at the request of the buyer. It can protect the buyer from unseen issues and may sometimes even be required by the buyer's bank to protect it from risky investments. If there are any problems discovered, a seller may be asked to either renegotiate the sale price, or take care of the repairs and remedy the problem.

Sometimes a home seller requests the service prior to putting it on the market, so that problems with a house may be addressed.

Considerable knowledge of common home repairs and their costs should be acquired by a good home inspector. The most valuable thing about a professional home inspection is that it is knowledgeable and unbiased. A quality home inspection performed according to industry accepted standards is non-invasive. An inspector will not remove wall surfaces or drill holes.

The following areas are inspected during a typical home inspection:

The roof can be a real problem area. The general shingle condition, flashings, gutters and downspouts, should all be inspected, not to mention the readily accessible, viewable, general structure of the roof.

Defects in siding, flashings, brick, or other wall coverings should be viewed on the exterior of the home; check the fit of the doors and windows; steps and porches should be looked at for the general condition (ie. rot), their railings too; something that may affect the structure of the house is the surface drainage. You also need them to look for signs of shifting - cracks, out of square door frames; signs of water penetration.

A minor part of the overall cost of a real estate transaction, a professional quality home inspection is well worth what it costs, considering its value adds reliability and certainty. The cost of not knowing can be considerable - you just never know.

Hundreds of items will be seen by a home inspector. Problems with the home will be identified by the inspection report. Often accompanied by photographs, it will describe the findings in clear and easy to understand language. The home inspector may point out the various findings in person while visiting the home with the client.

A professional quality home inspection usually costs anywhere from $250-$500, and will vary depending how old and big the house is. If a special deal at a lower cost is offered, the prospective client must determine if the inspection follows all industry accepted standards.

If you are a seller, an inspection can help you market your house more effectively. You may be able to make some minor repairs which will pay off in getting a better price. Unnoticed and potentially costly repairs which will be needed for the house will be brought to a buyer's attention by the inspection. Deal breakers might arise. Having the inspector's evaluation can help you get the very best deal if you do decide to buy the house.




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