The home buying process can be overwhelming, especially if it’s your first time or you don’t do it often. There are a lot of pieces to the puzzle and a home inspection is a notable one that helps bring the big picture together. Make sure you work with a licensed and trusted Realtor that has the knowledge and experience to get you through the inspection phase (and everything else) without losing your mind.
Here at Home Services we partner with reputable, vetted home inspection companies that will give you a deeper look into your dream home. One of those inspection partners, Aardvark Home Inspectors, shared with us an informative overview of the importance of home inspections and what they accomplish.
What it is.
A whole-house inspection is most common when buying or selling a home. The trained inspector examines everything from the roof to the basement or crawl and everything in between. Think about what you look at during showings and what draws you to falling in love and placing an offer. It’s likely not things like the HVAC, electrical, plumbing, and foundation… but these are obviously very important (and expensive) components of a home. Your inspector acts as a neutral third party hired to test and inspect major systems prior to closing and transfer of possession.
There are a number of additional, more specific, types of inspections that can be performed at the time of your whole house inspection. Mold and radon are becoming common examples of those. Lead-based paint (if your home was built prior to 1978), water quality testing, and termite inspection are other big ones to consider. Aardvark Home Inspectors recommends a sewer camera inspection, as it can be expensive [and messy] to discover an issue after closing.
What it isn’t.
An inspection is not a guarantee, nor is it a warranty. It is a snapshot of the condition of the home at that time. We’ve already discussed the importance of hiring a reputable inspector. However, even the highest trained professionals are not perfect. Inspections are not invasive. For example, if access to a crawl space or attic is blocked or furniture is placed over a hole in the floor, the inspectors are not responsible for moving items.
Inspections are also not appraisals. Your lender will require an appraisal to get the value of the home, but this will not identify defects like an inspection will.
Inspections are likely to disclose problems. No matter how new or well-maintained a home is, there will be issues. The real purpose is to identify potentially costly repairs that the average person wouldn’t be aware of, so, don’t get freaked out if there is a big list of little things. Concentrate on the big items.
Why it’s so important.
Buying a home is a huge investment. You need to know as much as you can about it!. Although most of us know how to live in a house, we aren’t experts on how the mechanical systems of a home operate. That’s why you call in an expert. Any system or structure that the buyer has concerns about should be checked out prior to closing. We recommend that buyers attend their home inspection so they can get a good look into their future home.
Also worth noting: Pro-active sellers can improve marketing power with a pre-listing inspection. Avoid surprises on a buyer’s home inspection by having your own prior to listing. This allows you to make necessary repairs and decisions about pricing.
Article was written by guest author Joe Mishak with Aardvark Home Inspectors
Aardvark Home Inspectors — (317) 777-1174 — aardvarkinspect.com
