The DIY spirit took the world by storm a few years back, and now the DIY market is expected to grow a whopping $812 billion by 2027.
If you’ve ever done a DIY project, then you know the thrill of accomplishing one and the large amount of money you saved as a result. As good as it is, however, there are limits to what home improvement DIY projects you should do.
Some DIY projects can take thousands of dollars to rectify when your DIY flops, and you need to understand where to draw the line. For instance, a home inspection is one thing you should leave to the professionals, and for very good reasons. Buying a home is one of the most significant investments you may ever make in your life, but you’d be surprised at all the hidden stuff that will later cost you tons of money to fix.
A DIY inspection is not enough to make an informed decision because you lack the knowledge and expertise of a licensed home inspector. Let’s explore some of the reasons why you need to rule out DIYing your home inspection.
You Lack the Knowledge and Experience
Essentially, a home inspection is meant to find any and all defects in the property that could cause you problems in the future. Usually, some problems are so well hidden that there is a chance you’ll miss them entirely until the problem arises. For instance, you may not know that the foundation is weak enough to allow in floodwater when it rains if you purchase the home in summer.
However, an experienced and well-skilled home inspector can tell when there’s a structural problem by looking at the house. You may also not know that the roof will leak until the rainy season when it actually does, and you realize that you will spend thousands of dollars repairing or replacing it. When you hire a professional home inspector, they bring experience with them, as they have performed multiple home inspections before.
They have enough knowledge to know where most problems are prone to be, so they know where to look, even in the most unusual places. They will identify hidden problems and defects and tell you how much they will cost to repair or replace. They will also uncover recent cheap repairs the owner might have made to cover up bigger problems and will save you a lot of trouble, money, and regrets later on when things blow up.
You May Not Have the Right Tools for the Job
There is so much more to a home inspection than looking at what works and what doesn’t. For instance, you need to inspect crawl spaces and the attic, which may not be accessible. In this case, an inspector will bring the right tools like infrared cameras, which they’ll use to check and diagnose problems in those areas.
They will bring moisture meters to find any water leaks, mold detectors to find mold, fault detectors, multimeters, and so much more. Chances are, you may not have access to these things, and even if you do, you may not know exactly what you need to check that property. Even if you get a home inspection kit, you still need to understand how to operate all those tools and equipment, and how to get accurate results from them.
You May Not Have the Time
A home inspection is not an easy or a mundane task, as most people seem to think. What’s to it anyway, just checking what’s broken and what’s working? No!
A home inspection is an involved job that goes far beyond checking what fixtures work and what appliances are malfunctioning. It involves assessing a property from its foundation to the tip of the roof and from a structural standpoint, there is so much that could be wrong with the walls, ceiling basement, and the like.
Even more than that, you need to check all the electrical wiring in the home for damages, and the plumbing system needs as much attention. Both of these have the potential to cost you a lot of money, but if caught before the home purchase, you can have the seller repair them, or lower the price of the house so you can conduct the repairs yourself later.
Do you feel like you’re up to checking all these things?
You Have Not a Clue About Home Inspection Reports
How much knowledge do you have about home inspection reports? You most possibly intend to look it up on Google and figure out a way to do it online, right? There is so much that could go wrong, unlike when you hire a professional inspector.
A competent home inspector will conduct the home inspection process with expertise. They’ll give you a detailed and comprehensive home inspection report that you can present to the seller. The problem with a DIY home inspection is that the builders may not take your report seriously, and could still leave you with property problems.
You Might Miss Hidden Defects
The chances of missing hidden problems and defects with a DIY home inspection are so great that it’s not even worth trying. Most issues can’t be traced by untrained eyes.
Inspectors have a knack for detecting underlying issues that could pose a threat or turn into major problems. Sellers can be quite cunning, especially if you’re dealing with an agent that really wants to close the deal.
They could easily fool you into believing that there are no major issues with the house. The bigger problem with this is that you’ll save hundreds of dollars that you could pay for a professional inspection, only to offset thousands of dollars you will spend on repairs and replacements later on after purchasing the house.
You Need an Unbiased and Objective Opinion
The moment you find what you feel is the perfect dream house, you’ll get emotionally attached. You won’t allow yourself to think that there could be anything wrong that could prevent you from purchasing that house. You can see yourself playing with your grandchildren in that beautiful backyard, and you already know the landscaping tips you’ll use to make it look perfect.
There’s a chance you’ll find it hard to remain objective and emotions, which will cloud your judgment. If you conduct a DIY home inspection, you may overlook some issues that could cost you the money you’re not willing to spend. A professional home inspector will give you an objective and unbiased home inspection report, highlighting all issues the house presents.
Why You Should Never DIY a Home Inspection
These are some of the most valid reasons why you should not DIY your home inspection. There is too much at risk, and you should hire a professional home inspector instead. They will offer you a thorough inspection by diagnosing all present issues and help you make an informed decision about purchasing the house.
If you’re looking for a professional service, please schedule an inspection with us, and we’ll send professionals your way!