As part of the purchase contract, your real estate agent should suggest that the contract goes through on certain contingencies, including a home inspection. An inspection contingency allows you to negotiate with the seller to repair items that could cost you thousands, have the seller give you a credit, or for you to back out of the deal. While home inspections are not required, it is better that you have at least a general inspection done. The few hundred dollars it might cost could save you thousands after you purchase the house. So, let us continue on understanding home inspections.
Finding a Good Inspector
Choose a good inspector that will locate any issues with the property. If you end up with a bad inspector, you might as well have not had an inspection. You might ask a home inspector several things to help you choose the best inspector, including:
- Whether the inspector belongs to any professional associations
- How much experience the inspector has
- The length of time the inspection will take
- Whether the inspector’s report meets all of the state’s requirements
- How the inspector keeps his or her experience up to date
- Whether the inspector focuses on residential inspections
- How much the inspection will cost
- Whether the inspector does improvements or repairs
- Whether you will be able to attend the inspection
Why Are Home Inspections Important?
The biggest reason a home inspection is important is that it could save you thousands of dollars down the road. The inspector will uncover most all of the issues with a home, including underlying issues that you may not see, such as mold, plumbing problems and other issues. An inspection also gives you the opportunity to inspect your potential home for other issues you may not want to deal with.
The inspector will check the electrical components, plumbing, appliances, ventilation, heating and air conditioning system, the structure of the home, the roof, fireplace and the chimney, the windows, doors, foundation and will check for mold.
Once the inspector finishes, he or she will write a report that includes any issues that were found. The inspector will also make recommendations about any repairs that may need to be done, so that you may choose to do the repairs yourself or ask the seller to make the repairs.
Additional Inspections
In addition to a general inspection, you may elect to have additional inspections, depending on the age of the home and other factors. Even if the general inspector does not see signs of termites, you should have a termite inspection. Professionals will be able to better determine if the home has a problem – or had a previous problem with termites. Termites could damage the structure of a home, costing you thousands later.
Radon is a radioactive gas that forms when radium breaks down. This happens naturally, especially in areas where there is a lot of granite. Radon will accumulate in a home, particularly in basements and attics that are not generally opened to the outside air. If an inspector does find radon in a home, the seller – or you, depending on how you negotiate the deal – could seal the concrete slab floor, water drainage systems and basement foundation.
If the property you are interested in has a well instead of city water, or a septic tank instead of city sewage, you should get those items inspected.
Contact On Point Carolinas Realty
If you are ready to purchase a home or to sell your home, contact On Point Carolinas Realty to help you through the process. We will ensure that the process of buying or selling goes as smoothly as possible.
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