Hi! Welcome back to #FabulousFriday! When buying a home, you have the option of asking for a home inspection. In fact, a home inspection is actually one of the most common contract contingencies. Whether you have purchased many homes, or this is your first purchase, getting a home inspection is highly recommended. There are actually many reasons why you should consider asking for a home inspection before buying your home. The most common reasons are as follows:
1) Peace of mind. The primary purpose for obtaining a home inspection is to provide you with peace of mind. You want to make sure all the systems are working and that the home is solid and safe. By performing a home inspection, you can avoid unnecessary anxiety and stress.
2) A small price to pay. Most home inspections range between $300-$600 depending upon the size of the home and property. Since buying a home is a large financial investment, the cost of an inspection is a small percentage of the overall purchase price. Buyer's who decide to waive their right to having a home inspection often regret it in the future. The most common circumstance when a buyer waives their right to an inspection occurs when there are multiple offers on the home. If there is a multiple offer situation, a seller may be more likely to select the buyer who offers to purchase without a home inspection contingency. Nevertheless, getting an inspection might be a small price to pay in the long run.
3) Uncover safety issues. The home inspection provides an opportunity to throughly investigate the home you are potentially purchasing. It's important to understand that a quality home inspector might find issues with every home, even a newly built property. Some issues that are discovered during a home inspection are actually quite common. Issues such as improper electrical wiring, worn roofing, inoperable windows, and plumbing deficiencies are just a few of the commonly found home inspection issues. The purpose of a home inspection is not to make sure that every last thing in the home is perfect and to your liking, the point is to make certain there are no major obstacles or glaring property inconsistencies.
4) Find structural issues. It is important to uncover any structural issues before making a home purchase. The structure of the home is one of the most important components of a real estate purchase. Structural issues can cost thousands of dollars to correct. It is important to have a professional uncover any defects and avoid large unnecessary out of pocket expenses in the future.
5) Forecast future property upkeep expenses. Since buying a home can be a significant investment, it is important to account for future upkeep and expenses. Home inspections can help to anticipate expenses for replacement or upgrades that may arise in the future for things such as: appliances, windows, roofing, air conditioning, electrical, plumbing and heating systems.
As you can see, having a home inspection can be a good investment and highly recommended when buying a home for the reasons listed above. While a home inspector is not perfect and can miss issues during a home inspection, they will inspect the home in much more detail than you and your agent can do during your initial walk through showing inspection.
Have questions? We can help-sign up here and a helpful Shaffer Real Estate and Shaffer Realty agent can begin showing you a home today. Have a great weekend! Warmly, Susan