Sunday, 17 November 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. Home inspections are most often performed at the request of the buyer as part of the home buying process. Sometimes it is required by the buyer's bank to protect it from risky investments, and can protect the buyer from unseen issues too. 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.

Considerable knowledge of common home repairs and their costs should be acquired by a good home inspector. 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. No holes will be drilled or walls removed by the inspector.

Inspection of the following areas is normal:

A real problem area can be the roof. The general shingle condition, flashings, gutters and downspouts, should all be inspected, not to mention the readily accessible, viewable, general structure of the roof.

The exterior of the home should be viewed for defects in siding, flashings, brick, or other wall coverings; examine if the doors and windows fit; steps and porches should be looked at for the general condition (ie. rot), their railings too; and surface drainage as it may affect the structure of the house. 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.

Hundreds of items will be seen by a home inspector. 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. The prospective client must determine if the inspection follows all industry accepted standards, if a special deal at a lower cost is offered.

If you are a seller, an inspection can help you market your house more effectively. You may be able to make some minor repairs which will pay off in getting a better price. If you are a buyer, an inspection may warn you of unnoticed and potentially costly repairs which will be needed for the house. They may be deal breakers. 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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