Home Inspections: The Good, The Bad & The Ugly
As a responsible Realtor, I ALWAYS advise my buyer clients to order a home inspection right after an offer to purchase is signed, sealed, and delivered. It is the right next step in the buying process. We don't like to buy a car without a Carfax report that will disclose all the mechanical issues and repairs that have been made to the car we are purchasing...why would we even consider going blindly into the largest single purchase most will ever have? It just makes good sense to have a complete home inspection of the home we are in the process of buying. But, what is a home inspection? Why should you (the prosepctive buyer) pay for one? What happens if issues are found? I will answer these questions and more as we take an in-depth look into home inspections.
So, what exactly is the purpose of the home inspection? It is in essence a bit of an insurance policy to a buyer that the property that they are purchasing isn't being sold to them without a full view of the condition. It is an inexpensive way to get a holistic view of your new home. A good home inspection will assist the buyer in acquiring a full understanding of what they are buying. Buying a home without a home inspection is much like buying a car without looking under the hood. Most folks aren't going to do that! It isn't very wise. A home inspection is in no way mandatory, but it is highly advisable to protect yourself.
How much will this cost you? Well in our area, the typically home inspection costs between $300-$500. That can vary based on home size and location. This is a cost that I advise my buyer clients about during our initial meetings so that they are prepared financially and mentally to pay. It truly is a small cost compared to purchasing a home with a major issue that you will have to pay for later. So while you're saving and allocating money as you head into purchasing a home, make sure to set some money back for your home inspection. A little bit of money up front can save you a HUGE headache later.
Ok, you've had a home inspection and there are some problems...now what? After receiving your inspection report from your home inspector, you've found some issues that you're not sure what to do with. Your Realtor will help you navigate this step. There are a few options...you can deal with the issue on your own following the closing, you can negotiate some repairs with the buyers, or you decide that the issues are too large and you decide to walk away from the deal. It is not an encourgaing thought, but it's better to know what you're buying than to find out the hard way later.
Without all of that said, what is involved in a home inspection? Let's take a quick look! Following an inspection, the inspector will provide a home inspection report that will provide inforamtion and conditiion of the following items in your potential new home:
So, what exactly is the purpose of the home inspection? It is in essence a bit of an insurance policy to a buyer that the property that they are purchasing isn't being sold to them without a full view of the condition. It is an inexpensive way to get a holistic view of your new home. A good home inspection will assist the buyer in acquiring a full understanding of what they are buying. Buying a home without a home inspection is much like buying a car without looking under the hood. Most folks aren't going to do that! It isn't very wise. A home inspection is in no way mandatory, but it is highly advisable to protect yourself.
How much will this cost you? Well in our area, the typically home inspection costs between $300-$500. That can vary based on home size and location. This is a cost that I advise my buyer clients about during our initial meetings so that they are prepared financially and mentally to pay. It truly is a small cost compared to purchasing a home with a major issue that you will have to pay for later. So while you're saving and allocating money as you head into purchasing a home, make sure to set some money back for your home inspection. A little bit of money up front can save you a HUGE headache later.
Ok, you've had a home inspection and there are some problems...now what? After receiving your inspection report from your home inspector, you've found some issues that you're not sure what to do with. Your Realtor will help you navigate this step. There are a few options...you can deal with the issue on your own following the closing, you can negotiate some repairs with the buyers, or you decide that the issues are too large and you decide to walk away from the deal. It is not an encourgaing thought, but it's better to know what you're buying than to find out the hard way later.
Without all of that said, what is involved in a home inspection? Let's take a quick look! Following an inspection, the inspector will provide a home inspection report that will provide inforamtion and conditiion of the following items in your potential new home:
Items Inspected:
- Plumbing
- Electrical
- Roof
- Exterior
- Structure
- HVAC
- Windows
- Doors
- Walls
- Fireplaces
- Ventilation
Lots of things can be listed...from minor faucet drips to major system failures. Here are the 7 things that you need to look for on the inspection report.
And that’s a wrap! This is by no means covering all possible scenarios, but it does address some of the most common issues that arise. I’d love to answer any questions that you may have! Please feel free comment or reach out to me! Let’s meet and get started on your real estate journey!
Until next time,
Melissa Hall, Realtor
This is very educational content and written well for a change. It's nice to see that some people still understand how to write a quality post.! Lifting Gear Inspection
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