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Hire a Professional Home Inspector
As it is written into the contract when purchasing real estate, the
buyer will have a date specific amount of time to get an inspection
performed.
Obviously, your tour of the property is suggested for
overall appearance etc. In spite of numerous consumer affairs
articles published over the years, many people still make the
mistake of buying a home without having it inspected. Investing the
better part of ones life savings without knowing the property's true
condition is a terrible mistake. A professional home inspector will
inspect the property to determine any major or minor damage that
could affect the value.
An inspection is a third-party evaluation by a professional
inspector of the accessible structure and mechanical systems of a
house, from the roof to the foundation. The standard home
inspector's report will include an evaluation of the condition of
the home's heating and cooling system, interior plumbing and
electrical systems; the roof, attic, visible insulation; walls,
ceilings, floors, windows and doors; the foundation, basement, and
visible structure. Hire a professional home inspector. Not just a
local builder or electrician. Get a report on the condition of the
home and the systems in it.
If there are problems then you should:
1- Ask the seller to fix them.
2- Ask for a suitable price reduction.
3- Find another Home.
A qualified home inspector routinely evaluates all visible building
components, from the roof to the foundation, including the plumbing,
heating, and electrical systems. Also covered are fireplaces,
built-in appliances, drainage conditions, overall safety, and much
more. In addition, a knowledgeable inspector provides valuable
suggestions for preventive maintenance.
Considering the high cost of real estate today, an inspection fee is
a small price to pay. It can save thousands of dollars and years of
regret.
But make no mistake a thorough inspection can shield you from costly
discoveries after the close of escrow. It's one of the best consumer
protection services available.
Every home, regardless of age or quality, harbors a small, medium,
or large list of defective conditions; some obvious; some only
apparent to those who know how and where to look. When you hire an
experienced, qualified home inspector, there is no question as to
whether unknown defects will be found; but rather what, where, and
how serious, dangerous, or expensive the defects will turn out to
be.
Most homebuyers spend fifteen minutes to an hour walking through a
home prior to making an offer. At best, this provides a general
impression of the overall physical condition. But what about
foundations and structural framing, attic construction, insulation,
ventilation, and roof conditions. These are just a few of the
hundreds of considerations included in a home inspection.
Above all, let's not forget building safety. An inspector can alert
you to red flag issues involving the electrical wiring and fixtures,
fireplaces and chimneys, gas fixtures such as furnaces, water
heaters, cook tops, and ovens, railings at staircases and decks,
tempered safety glass in required locations, and automatic reverse
of garage door openers.
Furthermore, an inspector can forewarn you of problems involving
faulty ground drainage, defective plumbing, substandard
construction, firewall compliance, building settlement, leakage,
general deterioration, inoperative fixtures, and so much more.
A Real Estate Agent understands this process and the importance of
equipping the Buyer to make an informed purchase decision and
offering at least 3 licensed inspectors to choose from. An Agent
should be working to protect your financial interests. With a
detailed home inspection, you will know what you are buying, before
you buy it. And that could save you thousands of dollars and years
of regret.
Home inspection fees vary. The price of a quality inspection
generally falls between $250 and $350. depending on the square
footage of the property. A home is the most expensive commodity you
are likely to purchase in a lifetime. One defect missed by your
inspector could cost 100 times what you save with a bargain
inspection. The best method of price shopping is to shop for
quality.
Also, some inspections companies also offer termite and pest
inspections. If you chose an inspector that does not, find a
licensed termite and pest company to do the evaluation, the cost is
usually under $150.
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