Are you in the middle of buying a home and worried that there might be a problem?
You might not have all the information. An average home inspection takes into account 500 components in the investigation. Any one of these can indicate a potential problem.
You want the home buying process to go smooth, so how do you know when an inspection can help? This post will inform you of what you need to know.
Keep reading to learn why and when to schedule an inspection for your new potential home.
What is a Home Inspection?
A home inspection is a service from a housing professional that inspects a potential real estate purchase for problems. Their service will investigate the house from top to bottom for issues.
The common areas an inspector will report on are the roof and attic, basement and foundation, interior space, HVAC, home exterior, and the electrical system.
This process is a non-invasive service. No part of the home will be taken apart during the process. If an inspector finds that there could be a deeper problem, then someone qualified for that problem will need to come into play.
Why Should You Get a Home Inspection?
A home inspection will give you peace of mind.
Sellers aren’t usually out to get you. You won’t find people failing to mention problems in the house. Sometimes a property will have issues that a seller won’t be aware of.
When a problem comes up during the inspection, it gives you options. A typical contract will allow you to request fixes for issues found in a home inspection report. The buyer then has the opportunity to fix any defects.
If a fix from the buyer doesn’t happen, then you have the right to back out of the contract without any penalty. Sometimes a problem will cost too much money to resolve, and it won’t be worthwhile for either party to continue with the purchase.
When Should You Schedule Your Inspection?
It isn’t a good idea to set up a home inspection as soon as you find what you like. You need to do some work beforehand with the property seller to make sure the deal will work before bringing in an inspection.
Most buyers will schedule their inspection after a contract is in place to buy the property. That deal will only take place if the home inspection goes well and doesn’t find any issues with the property.
By scheduling your inspection after you have decided on your home, you will be saving money in the long run. If you throw a home review at any potential deal, then you are going to be spending all your money before you even get to the contract process.
But, there are exceptions to this.
If you are buying in a hot market, then you may be up against other buyers. If you offer a pre-inspection before the bidding process, the buyer has some assurance from you of a firm price since the inspection process is out of the way.
What Does a Home Inspection Involve?
Many inspectors belong to an association that standardizes the inspection process. This makes it easy to predict what happens when developing the inspection report. Here is what you can expect.
Inspection Period
The first step is for the home inspector to travel to the property to gather data for their report. During this time they will inspect all of the problem points in the house to add to their findings.
This process generally takes 2 to 3 hours but can vary based on the house.
Reporting Period
Once the inspection is done, it will take time to compile your inspection report. This process can take anywhere between 24 and 48 hours.
Once you have your inspection report, your inspector will then brief you on any problems found in the home that need to be addressed.
Decision Time
Now, it’s your turn. This is the point where you will decide whether or not to continue with the deal.
If your inspection comes out clean, then you are good to go. If problems are discovered, then you will need to talk with the seller to see what your options are.
If they agree to handle any repairs indicated in your report, then things will move along. But, if they don’t make the repairs, then you may need to pull your offer from the table.
How Do You Find a Trustworthy Inspector?
Just like all service businesses, finding a trustworthy partner for the home inspection process is vital for getting things done and getting all the information you need.
Take the time to ask for referrals and ask your home inspector questions to figure out if they will be responsive to you.
There are a few simple questions you can ask to gauge your potential inspector:
- How long have you been doing inspections?
- How many inspections have you done in total?
- What certifications do you have for home inspections?
- Am I able to attend the inspection?
- What is your process like for inspecting homes?
A good contractor will be able to answer all these questions and any others without hesitation.
If certifications are a concern, then make sure you investigate your state requirements for certifications. Not all states require certifications to be an inspector.
Don’t Skip a Home Inspection in Your Home Buying Process
The home buying process is long, and you are probably trying to get it over with as soon as possible. But if you don’t take the proper precautions when you think there is a problem, then you are looking for trouble.
Make sure you do your due diligence to make sure you are getting a good buy.
If you are in the home buying process and ready to schedule an inspection, contact us, and we will get in touch to get the job done.