7 Key Things to Know
About Pre-Purchase Home Inspections
Obtaining a home inspection is an important part of the
process of purchasing a house. It arms you with the knowledge you need to
determine whether or not you wish to purchase the home. The inspection is
performed by professionals trained in residential construction codes as it
relates to major components and systems of the house. Your home inspector will
give you an expert opinion about the structural integrity as well as the
condition of major working systems such as plumbing, heating, and the
electrical systems of the house based upon a visual examination. He will inform
you about the major defects in the home so that you don’t have any unpleasant
surprises. If the house needs a lot of repairs and replacements, you will incur
high costs on yourself after moving in. Being aware of the condition of the
home you are considering well in advance will help you make a better decision.
Why Would I Need a
Home Inspection Before I Buy a House?
Purchasing a home is the single largest investment most
Americans will make. So they must proceed carefully so that their hard-earned
money is spent at the right place. A professional home inspection helps you
become an informed buyer capable of making intelligent choices.
What Does a Home
Inspector Look For?
“The purpose of a home inspection is to look for material
defects of a property—things that are unsafe, not working, or that create a
hazard,” according to Kurt Salomon, president of the American Society of Home
Inspectors and an inspector based in Salt Lake City. A home inspector gives you
the big picture analysis of the house. He mainly points out the major problems
in the house associated with structural soundness and crucial systems. As a
home buyer, you definitely expect a lot from a home inspector but the reality
is that their job is limited and they can’t look into everything and predict
future complications.
What Can I Expect
from a Pre-Purchase Home Inspection?
The job of a home inspector is primarily to give you the big
picture analysis of the house. His main
focus is to detect the issues related with the structure's integrity and the
working of the major systems of the house. Home inspectors don’t do any sort of
destructive testing and you can’t expect them to give you the details of every
nail, wire and pipe in the house. Their inspections are visual, so if anything
is hiding out of site they will not be able to detect it.
The report prepared by them is supposed to be taken as an
overall view about the house and shouldn’t be taken as a guarantee that major
systems of the house won't ever need repair. As it is obvious that every house
needs regular maintenance to stay in good condition, you must keep in mind that
no house is perfect and there might be some issues beyond your home inspector’s
report.
What Should I
Consider Before Hiring a Home Inspector?
Though home buyers expect a lot from home inspectors, the
fact is that their job is limited. As stated earlier, they can’t furnish you
the details of every little thing in the house. So it is recommended that you
take care of certain things yourself by being an alert and informed buyer. By
doing so you can be more assured of the safety and desired working of the
crucial systems of the house. Also, it will save you from incurring heavy costs
resulting from unexpected expenditures post-purchase. When you consider hiring
a professional home inspector, you are advised to ask him certain questions
such as how much experience he has in the field of home inspection, whether he
has any expertise in child safety, environmental-friendliness or any other
issue relevant to you and your family. For instance, when you are considering a
home with a swimming pool, the home inspector should have expertise in pool
safety.
Look For the Hazards.
It is recommended to identify common hazards yourself before
you move into a house. Check whether the space between railings is narrow or
wide enough for babies to crawl and fall through. Also make sure that the gates
enclosing the backyard pool are at least six feet tall so that they remain
inaccessible to children. Take care to
protect yourself and your family against environmental toxins such as lead
paint, asbestos, and radon, which are dangerous for the health of your family
and can be costly to remove. If you are alert about such issues, you can ask
the seller to pay fully or partially for the abatement or removal of such
toxins. Also check whether the
electrical systems of the house are working properly or need any repairs or
replacements. If you find any upgrades
are necessary for the same, again ask the seller to get them done or split the
costs with you.
Home Inspectors May
Customize the Checklist According to the Case.
A home inspector may customize his checklist depending upon
the specific needs of a buyer. For example, if a couple with young children is
purchasing the house, the home inspector may be more attentive to associated
safety issues. On the other hand, in the case of the couple with no children,
child safety issues may not be significant and home inspector will likely not
bring it to the buyers’ notice. Also, if there is a particular area that you
are especially concerned with, like how old the electrical system is, you can
ask him to pay special attention to that system. Do bear in mind, however, that
the checklist the inspector has developed for pre-purchase home inspections has
years of experience and some government oversight behind it.
What Options are
there after the Home Inspection?
After the inspection
is complete and the report handed over to you, you can assess your options. If
you find the report satisfactory, you can go ahead with the purchase. If you
find there are certain issues which need to be addressed, you can discuss the
same with the seller and resolve them . Perhaps you can get the seller to fix
the issues prior to purchase, or negotiate the asking price of the home down to
cover the cost. And at last, if the
report is not satisfactory and you feel the deal is not worth your hard-earned
money, opt out of it.
