Why Home Inspections Are A Sound Investment

Buying a home can be a tedious process. You will need to be pre-approved for your mortgage and have a good real estate agent whom you are comfortable with. The agent you choose to work with needs to listen to your needs and requirements. Individuals might spend as much as 6 months looking for the perfect home. Once you find this perfect home though, it is wise for you to get it inspected. This may end up saving you thousands of dollars in unforeseen expenses.

A general home inspection will only look at defects with the structure. But it would be in your best interests to get a more detailed inspection before you purchase any property.

Here are some things which you should include in your inspections:

Pest inspection: This won’t just let you know about any insects destroying the woodwork but will also inform you of dry rot anywhere on the property.

Chimney: This will ensure the chimney is working fine and if the brick or liner inside needs repair.

Air conditioning and heating: Most furnaces need to be serviced and cleaned regularly. If they aren’t functioning properly, they need to be inspected by professionals to determine the problem and solution.

Lead paint: Lead paint has been banned for use in homes. But there are some homes which may still have some undercoats of this paint. If you do find any lead paint in the home, get a certified contractor to remove it properly.

Roof: Inspecting the roof will disclose its life expectancy. Make sure the roofing inspector also provides an estimated cost for any replacements or repairs.

Well and septic system: If the home has a well or septic system, get it inspected. Sometimes, the home may be in a municipality which requires these inspections.

Radon: There are a number of locations in the U.S. which have radon issues. A home with high amounts of radon could cause serious health problems.

Mold: If there’s any mold in the home, you need to get a licensed contractor to get rid of it. Mold can have some adverse effects on your health.

Conclusion

These are just a few of the inspections which will help you make an informed decision regarding your purchase. If you have specific concerns regarding your property before the inspections are completed, it’s recommended that you be present during the inspections. This will let you point out your concern to the licensed contractor. If you still want to buy the property even with certain issues, make sure the deficiencies are properly documented so that you can use them to negotiate on the price. Alternatively, if you are selling your home, make sure you get all these problems addressed beforehand so that potential buyers can’t drive the price down.