Do You Need a Home Inspection?
Currently professional home inspections are more frequent than any time before, for they ensure that you are investing money in the right property. Besides standard home inspection, buyers are using specialized inspection services based on property or location.
The task of a professional home inspector consists of assessing the structure and operating system of a home, regardless of the time the home was built; even new homes can go through professional inspection process. The job of the inspector is to review and based on that, creating a written report that will work as a reference guide in the upcoming days. Generally, inspectors take in consideration things like: heating and cooling system, plumbing, foundation, electrical service, and other factors attached to the structural design of the home. Based on that, they can recommend replacement and repair cost wherever it’s necessary. They also add a report which is an evaluation of your home’s condition, compared to houses of the same age. The time spent with the inspector is the ripe time to learn everything important about your home, which would come handy to take care of it properly. The reference book should always be in your reach for the days you are going to spend in that house.
As the real estate market has experienced an enormous growth in the last few decades, the role of home inspectors has become more specialized because of specific properties or markets. For instance, based on your requirements you may need the service of a water-quality inspector, a termite inspector, or a swimming pool inspector.
Cost of Home Inspection
For a single family unit the cost of home inspection could be in between $300 to $500. However, it may go up, or be lower than that, based on the size of a specific home. Generally buyers are the one to foot the bill for such an inspection, and they take it as granted to ensure peace of mind. There are nevertheless some homeowners who pre-list home inspection report as a part of their marketing strategy to sell a home. When buying a home, a professional inspection may give you additional bargaining chips to negotiate the proposed price if some major flaws are detected; these flaws are something that must be repaired, but did not come up initially.
Take the advice of a real estate professional on how to make home inspection a precondition for buying a property. The next decisions pertaining to the purchase of the property will be subject to getting a satisfactory report. If there are indications of some big expenses, you can terminate the contract or ask for a change in the proposal that will serve your interest. If you ask for a renegotiation, your relator should be able to protect your interest by informing you of the potential risks that come with doing it all over again and make sure that the seller is not arranging a sell to another buyer. So, to get the fruit of a home inspection it is important that you involved your realtor in the process, too.