Some Tips For Your Home Inspection

There are a lot of steps involved in purchasing a home. But the home inspection is perhaps the most important one of them all. You need to hire a licensed home inspector to go evaluate any home you are planning on buying so that all problems can be uncovered before you make the purchase.

Here are five tips to help you with a successful home inspection:

Be there

Even though the inspector and real estate agent can handle the inspection, it’s always better if you are present too. This will help you get all of the information first-hand and also see any problems with your own eyes. A typical inspection lasts just a few hours and can help you avoid a costly mistake.

Follow up

If any issues are found or repairs are recommended by the inspector, you should ask them to provide an estimate for the repairs too. Some inspectors would also recommend a follow up from other service providers to check specific issues. Do not ignore this advice no matter how much it delays your purchase.

Second opinion

If there is something that isn’t sitting well with you, you should get a second opinion. You shouldn’t just take the word of the inspector. If you feel like the HVAC unit isn’t in the best shape, call in an expert to check it out. Getting termite inspection is another good idea irrespective of whether it is recommended by the inspector. The last thing you would want is to purchase a home and then find out you need to spend money on costly repairs which could have easily been avoided if you got an inspection done before the purchase.

Don’t skip new homes

Even for a new home, do not skip the inspection. This is the only way you can be certain no corners were cut during construction.

Older homes

Homes which are more than thirty years old will need additional tests. A visual inspection just isn’t enough. This will also include hydrostatic tests to check for any leakage in the drains. Getting a thorough report from a licensed inspector will make it easier for you to negotiate on the price.

Conclusion

The problems found in a home inspection aren’t always going to be the same. But some of the most common ones to look out for are plumbing issues, faulty wiring, structural defects, drainage problems, environmental hazards, etc. Home inspectors have all the tools required to check all of these elements. Many will also use water sensing equipment and thermal imaging in order to uncover issues with heat or moisture inside a home. If there are any appliances that come with the home, you should consider getting them inspected too.