Did you know that about half of millennials regret the choices they made when purchasing their homes?
Of these, one in five singled out frustration from the damage they did not know existed as the reason for their disenchantment.
With this in mind, a home inspection should be top of your list when buying a home. This article will detail some home inspection tips for buyers and why a home inspection is absolutely necessary.
Home Inspection Tips for Buyers
Buying a house can be a tedious and overwhelming process. Unfortunately, many buyers make costly mistakes during this process. Most of these relate to home inspection. Here are 7 inspection tips that you should know before buying a home.
1. Do Not Skip an Inspection
While most people will have a used home inspected, people will forego an inspection on a new house. The assumption is that since it’s new, it is perfect. This is not always the case.
For a new house to be completed, there are lots of different components and contractors involved. To complicate matters further, each of the contractors has several employees.
This means one house could have more than 100 different people working on it.
With all these people, time constraints and the differing working experience, the element of human error cannot be understated.
A proper inspection can save you money form repairs down the line.
2. Be Present
It might be tempting to allow the house inspectors to do the inspection independently and in your absence.
However, relying on a written report is less advantageous than being present and being able to ask questions.
Also, being present means you can ascertain which issues are major concerns and which ones you can overlook and handle once you move in.
If you are unable to be present for the entire inspection duration, you can be there towards the end to go over any pain points with the inspector.
If this is impossible, then you can request your realtor to represent you.
3. Manage Your Expectations
There are rarely ever any perfect houses. Expecting the inspector or house to be flawless is guaranteed to disappoint you.
Instead, focus on the degree of the flaws as opposed to the number. Most times, the flaws will be minor.
With the inspection report in hand, separate the items from the list that are urgent from those that do not necessarily require repair.
This will give you a clearer picture of the general condition of the house. It will also pave the way for objective negotiations with the seller.
4. Comb Through the Final Report
The final report should be comprehensive and should give a room by room report. Here are some of the things likely to be highlighted on your report:
Material Defect
These are issues that might impact the cost of the house and pose a potential safety hazard to the occupants of the home.
Minor Defect
These are minor, easily fixed issues. These can be handled by the homeowner or the contractor.
Major Defect
These are components that require repair or an overhaul.
Cosmetic Defect
These are aesthetic flaws that do not compromise on safety or functionality in any way.
5. Hire a Good Home Inspector
A good inspector does not come cheap but is well worth it.
Essentially, your inspector should have current certifications on NACHI, ASHI as well as educational coursework and training.
Also, ensure that they have a full insurance policy. In the event they are hurt on the property, this policy covers you.
Getting an inspector familiar with the area your property is in is advantageous because they have some background information on the builders, the soil, pests and so on.
6. Get Further Inspections
Certain issues that come up in the initial report with require more scrutiny.
This will give you more detailed information about the extent of the damage.
Some issues that require more inspections include:
- Termite issues
- Presence of Lead and asbestos
- Structural and chimney faults
- Presence of mold/ mildew
A full report into these issues can tilt the scales when making your final decision.
7. Confirm That All Repairs Have Been Done
These are among the last steps before a purchase. Once a purchase has been made, any issues that are existent will be on your tab.
It’s therefore important that you ensure the items outlined in the inspection report are ironed out satisfactorily.
A final inspection can take care of this. If possible, have the inspector that carried out the initial inspection come and make a reassessment on the major repairs.
The inspector might charge you a fee for this, but again, ensuring all is in order before purchase is well worth the fee.
The Key Takeaways
Here is a quick summary of why a home inspection should be of top priority before making an offer on a house:
- The cost of an inspection can be cheaper than the cost of making repairs and replacements down the line
- It gives you the power to negotiate on the cost
- It gives you the solid facts to have the seller make the repairs or compensate you for making the repairs yourself
- It gives you a clear picture of what you are buying and what to expect
- It provides information on whether the house is safe for you and your family
- An inspection can reveal additions and installations, legal or otherwise
- Your home inspector can approximate the age of most installations and when they are likely to be due for replacement
- The inspection report can be used by your insurer to calculate premiums and provide cover
Find the Right Partner
Buying a house is one of the major decisions you will make in your adult life. As such, it is imperative to take all the necessary measures to ensure that you do not have regret later on.
Class Home Inspection goes above and beyond the above home inspection tips to provide you with every detail you need in order to make an informed decision. Contact us today to schedule an appointment.