Monday, November 18, 2013

Home Inspections Matter

By Morgana Gunt


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

A home inspection evaluates the current condition of a house through a professional and objective evaluation. Typically done as part of the home buying process, home inspections are most often performed at the buyer's request. 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. A seller may be asked to effect repairs, to pay for the repairs or to renegotiate the sale price, in the event problems are found.

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

The best home inspector is likely to have acquired considerable knowledge of common home repairs and of their costs. The most valuable thing about a professional home inspection is that it is knowledgeable and unbiased. When performed according to industry accepted standards, a quality home inspection 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. They should inspect the general shingle condition, flashings, gutters and downspouts, and the general structure of the roof that can be readily accessed for viewing.

Outside, the house should be looked at for defects in the wall coverings such as siding, flashings, brick or other materials; examine if the doors and windows fit; steps and porches should be looked at for the general condition (ie. rot), their railings too; if there is poor surface drainage, it could impact the house's structure. You also need them to look for signs of shifting - cracks, out of square door frames; signs of water penetration.

The cost of a professional quality home inspection, given the value added by its reliability and certainty, is worth every penny and a small part of a real estate transaction's overall cost. You just never know what it will cost you to not know.

A home inspector will have looked at hundreds of items. The report identifies problems found during inspection. It will describe the findings in clear and easy to understand language, often accompanied by photographs. The home inspector may visit the home with the client to point out the various findings in person.

The cost of a professional quality home inspection is usually in a range between $250-$500, and varies according to the size and the age of the house. Some inspectors offer special deals at a lower cost but it is important for the prospective client to determine if the special deal follows all industry accepted standards.

An inspection can help you market your house more effectively, if you are a seller. Maybe you can do some small repairs that help you get a higher price. If you are a buyer, an inspection may warn you of unnoticed and potentially costly repairs which will be needed for the house. 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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