What could be more exciting than
buying a home? The experience of
a new
community, new neighbors and
friends, and perhaps even a
whole new outlook on life can be
quite exhilarating. I know the
home-buying process can be very
stressful, and nothing could be
worse than suddenly finding out
that there are major defects
with the property you just
purchased. A thorough and
professional home inspections
help ensure your familiarity
with the home and the condition
of its major systems.
The General Home Inspection
A professional home inspection
gives buyers valuable
information about a prospective
purchase and helps provide peace
of mind. A home inspection is an
overall visual and operational
examination of the home and
property -- The inspection
includes observation of
structural components (such as
the roof, foundation, basement,
exterior and interior walls,
chimney, doors, and windows),
appliance functions, and the
operation of any plumbing,
heating/air conditioning, and
electrical systems.
As soon as you become
serious about purchasing a
particular home, you should
consider having it
professionally inspected.
The purchase agreement for
the property should include
a protective clause giving
you the right to have a home
inspection company conduct a
complete general home
inspection.
The following is a list
of questions to ask
candidates when
selecting a qualified
local home inspection
service to conduct a
thorough inspection of
your home.
-
What will be
inspected?
-
What will I receive
with the inspection
report?
-
Do you follow
industry standards?
-
How much will the
home inspection
cost?
-
How much time will
the inspection take?
-
May I attend the
inspection?
-
Do you provide an
inspection agreement
and clearly explain
what defines the
scope of the
inspection?
-
Do you carry
insurance?
-
Do you offer other
home inspection
services?
-
Are you willing to
supply a sample
report?
-
When will the report
be ready?
-
Are you a full-time
inspection company?
-
Do you provide a
satisfaction
guarantee?
When you have received
answers to the above
questions from several
different companies,
take your time to
compare them. Buyers
should order property inspections from knowledgeable and/or licensed inspectors once the property goes under contract.
Initially, your knowledge about
a property comes from what the
sellers have disclosed and what
you have observed. A deeper look
by a professional can offer you
peace of mind. The property
inspector's job is to tell you
about the property. By telling
you the scope of the inspection,
you will know what the inspector
will and will not inspect and
how deeply the inspector will
inspect the home.
The purpose of the home inspection:
- Educate you about on-going maintenance issues.
- Familiarize you with items that might need repair in the future.
- Teach you about the operation of any equipment. This helps you in the future upkeep of the home.
- Inform you of major problems that might not have been known or readily apparent when you first looked at the property. Major undisclosed items can become items for negotiation.
Cosmetic repairs are superficial and readily apparent to you when you viewed the property. You should take these into account when making the initial offer. Maintenance issues also do not enter into negotiation. These are normal concerns of property ownership.
Inspectors will generally inspect the foundation and other structural items such as walls and roof. They will look at mechanical systems such as heating, air-conditioning, electrical, plumbing, doors and windows, and appliances.
Special inspections may be needed after the general provides you with a report. These could include separate septic, pool or hot tub, security, sprinkler, or structural inspections. Your inspector may suggest additional inspections by experts if there are concerns on those items
