Source: Point2Homes —
The process of buying a new home can be long and challenging and, you’ll find that there are many steps to follow if you want to get it right. The home inspection is a key step, but it’s also one that people are often tempted to skip to save a bit of money.
However, doing so can lead to buying a home that has huge structural problems, and nine times out of ten, you won’t realize it until it’s too late. With that in mind, let’s take a deep dive into home inspections and see just how important they are.
What Is a Home Inspection?
A house inspection is essentially an onsite examination of a property that is carried out by a professional home inspector. It’s their job to go around the entire residence and give their expert opinion regarding its state.
The inspection is a mostly visual assessment, designed to identify defects that make the home unsafe, such as major structural damage and outdated or dangerous components and appliances. The house inspector will record their findings in a written report, which will later be issued to the buyer.
Do I Need a Home Inspection?
House inspections are normally required by potential buyers after they’ve made an offer on a house. As a buyer, the best practice is to add a home inspection contingency to your offer. This allows you to back out of the sale or renegotiate the price or terms depending on the result of the property inspection.
Since purchasing property isn’t like buying other goods, that can be a handy feature. While you can test drive a car or try on clothes, you can’t give your new residence a trial run before you move in for good. In fact, many buyers only spend a few hours at most in what could be their forever home.
A home inspection takes away some of the uncertainty and enables you to make a more informed decision about whether to go ahead with the sale, renegotiate the price or terms, or walk away and look elsewhere.
Making the Most of a Home Inspection
If time allows, be sure to shadow the inspector as they look around. This enables you to spend a bit more time in the property and gives you a deeper understanding of the ins and outs of the various systems.
What Do Home Inspectors Look For?
Each inspector is different, but for the most part, they will follow a typical home inspection checklist and examine the following major components:
1. Structural Elements (Walls, Floors, Ceilings, Foundations)
The main purpose of a property inspection is to ensure that the home you’re buying will remain standing strong for many years to come. Inspectors will take time to examine all the structural elements, looking for cracks, stuck doors and uneven floors that can suggest issues with the foundation.
