A thorough home inspection is one of the most important steps in the home buying process and covers everything from the foundation to the roof, taking two to three hours to complete. The report should reflect the current condition of the home and all of its systems, and should cost $300-$600. Here are the three most important things you need to remember during the process:
1. Don't Waive
With the current market conditions, many buyers are doing everything they can to make their offers standout, amongst the competition, including waiving their inspection contingency. Purchasing a home is one of the most monumental investments you will ever make, and committing that kind of money without checking for major health and safety issues is a huge risk that could have dire consequences later on down the road. If you have found the home of your dreams, conduct a pre-inspection to rule out any major problems prior to submitting your offer. This will bolster your offer without compromising any opportunity to inspect the home.
2. Inspect New Construction
When purchasing new construction, do not assume that just because the home has passed code and ordinances it must be in great shape. Believe it or not, builders and contractors frequently make mistakes, and a proper home inspection will give you the peace of mind that you are moving into a well-built home, free of any major defects.
3. Health & Safety
Lastly, home inspectors do a great job of inspecting the entire house, but your main concern should be to find things that are negatively affecting the health and safety of the home. This means anything that is going to cause the house to lose functionality in any way. For example, gutters, roof, foundation/crawl space, pests etc. Don't get caught up on the small, cosmetic issues that are easy and inexpensive to repair.
Keep calm and hire a home inspector!
