Should I get a Home Inspection?

Before you buy a home, one of the things you should do is to have the home checked out by a qualified home inspector. Buying a home is expensive enough as it is - why would you choose to shell out over another $300-$400 or even more if you're not required to? This should give an understanding what a  home inspection can reveal and why you shouldn't opt out of this optional procedure.

It’s true that the purpose of a home inspection is only to inspect the quality, safety, and overall condition of things that are readily visible — that is, components of a home that don’t involve dismantling anything or opening up walls and ceilings. While this may sound like something anyone with a good eye could do, there are many examples of things a home inspector will look for that you probably can’t identify yourself. For example: Can you identify faulty wiring in an electrical panel or where to look for a roof leak. Also, if you live in Florida your inspector can usually perform the Wind Mitigation Inspection required to obtain insurance.

When looking for Home Inspector make sure you do your research well. Look at their qualifications and reveiws and not just a fancy Certified Inspector title that sometimes could be easily obtained. There are many different qualification that make one inspector better then the other. Always make sure they have a combination of these qualifications that are important to you. In example, a Home Inspector with 20 years experience may not always be the best inspector. But if he has 20 years experience, past construction knowledge, is in shape (and yes you want your inspector to be in shape so he can climb roofs, through attics, et.), and the company has great reviews, now you have something. Also, don't let the cost of the inspection cloud your veiw on the inspector. An expensive inspector isn't always the best, but yet an inexpensive inspector should worry you too.

When it comes down to it, you just shouldn’t let the cost of a home inspection trouble you (if you can’t afford it, you’re not ready to buy, anyway). While a home inspection will cost several hundred dollars, it can easily pay for itself and then some. The home inspection helps you determine if you are paying a fair price for the home If it has numerous repairs that need to be made, you may be able to negotiate with the seller and get them to replace the damaged air conditioner before you move in or provide a credit at closing for you to take care of the work yourself once you’re the new owner. When you consider how expensive it can be to replace an air conditioner or furnace (say, $4,000) , the cost of a home inspection really seems nominal.

For more information check out http://www.myeliteinspector.com/

Preston
Elite Property Inspection & Management