Whether selling a house, building a home, or buying previously owned, it’s important to have an inspector come by and assess its condition and uncover possible problems. When selling, you want to be able to correct any problems, any when purchasing, you want to know what you’re getting yourself into before putting an offer in.
Not only will an inspector assess the home and find issues, you’ll be provided with something that acts as a type of homeowner’s manual. He or she will include a list of maintenance tips and other important information about the home.
If you’re selling, you probably want to get a pre-sale inspection. This will give you a chance to fix any repairs and price the home fairly.
Make sure you hire a licensed inspector. Ask for recommendations, look at websites, or search for online reviews. Ask how long they’ve been inspecting homes and what their qualifications are. You’ll want a professional expert who will provide the best inspection. Before hiring, you also want to ask what is included in the inspection and what’s included in their price. Some inspections may require additional fees for extra services.
It’s important to be there on inspection day. You want to ensure they’re looking at everything and are providing maintenance tips along the way. A final report will be made up, usually with pictures, but seeing everything in person is helpful. You’ll have a better understanding of how the home works and more detailed information about any problems that may arise. Inspections take a long time; possibly an entire morning or afternoon and you should take your time.
Some of the things a professional will inspect including the heating and air conditioning system, electrical equipment, plumbing, the attic space, the basement, any evidence of leaks, the roof, the entire exterior, the foundation of the house, draining of the lot, when the home was built and if it’s up to code, and more. All of these things should be void of problems. If not, repairs will be suggested.
Additionally, a disclosure statement will be made up. Documents will be drawn that state whether the seller knows of any problems and whether they have been fixed. It gives the inspector an idea of what to look for and make sure any disclosed issues have been fixed.
While you hope an inspector finds all issues, it’s possible you’ll discover something after moving in. No need to panic, everyone makes mistakes. And sometimes there are internal issues that an inspector can’t see with the naked eye. Check your contract and see what will happen if you find problems after moving in.
