Do I Really Need To Hire A Home Inspector?
June 26th, 2010
Do I Really Need A Home Inspection?
Buying a home is usually the largest investment someone makes in a lifetime. Why would you not want to make a very small investment in a professional home inspection that could very well protect you from buying a “money pit”?
It is never a good idea to purchase anything without knowing exactly what you are getting your money. If you are thinking about buying a home, a thorough home inspection performed by professional inspector will give you an idea of the condition of the house and alert you to any potential problems that can come after the sale is complete.
For Example , if a heating system is running inefficiently , a thorough home inspection would alert you to the fact that you can expect higher than normal electric bills during the season. It may also suggest the unit may need to be replaced in the near future and considering a new systems can cost in excess of $5000, this is a potential expense a home buyer needs to be aware of before a final decision to purchase a home.
Professional home inspectors have an extensive amount of time in training and experience that cannot be attained in any other way, including home construction experience. The professional home inspector performs 300 to 400 inspections per year and is required to have several hours in continuing education credits.
Only a trained, experienced professional home inspector has the experience and trained eye to be able to check the many systems associated with a home.
There are thousands of variables that need to be checked during a home inspection and only a professional home inspector has the ability to understand the whole picture.
It takes 3-4 hours to complete a thorough home inspection. A normal home inspection consists of the structural system, roof system, exterior, plumbing system, electrical system, heating and air conditioning system, interior, insulation, ventilation, fireplace, foundation, and in some cases specialized tests to detect carbon monoxide, radon, and black mold. Also, a separate termite inspection may need to be performed.
The report from a professional home inspector gives the buyer leverage in final price negotiations. It will give the buyer and the seller some options as to final price or getting repairs made before closing. It is really hard for a seller to argue with a professional home inspectors report that is a detailed list of items that need to be addressed. Either way the buyer does not have to come up with out-of-pocket expenses after the sale.
A home inspection is mostly visual and there may by instances where items are hidden from view so further investigation may be required. A professional inspector wil note this in their report.
It is important that when looking for a professional home inspector, the lowest price should never be your deciding factor. In fact, in most cases, a quality, professional home inspector will in all likelihood be the most expensive. There is usually two reasons for a low priced home inspection: lack of experience or lack of quality. You do not need to be the “beta test” for a new or inexperienced home inspector.
Even though most top producing real estate agents are generally honest people, it is a good idea for you to select your own professional home inspector. This is your money, not the real estate agents.
You need to be present during your home inspection. Being present helps you not only feel comfortable with the quality of the final report but also aids you an understanding the evaluation, because a professional home inspector will take the time to discuss any and all defects that were found and answer any of your questions regarding the inspection and possible maintenance recommendations.
Purchasing a home can be very stressful. You can make the experience a lot more pleasant and have greater peace of mind with a professional home inspection.
You do not want to say later, “I wish I would have hired a professional home inspector” when a major problem is discovered after the purchase.
Ken Compton of Southern Home Inspection Sercices in Atlanta Ga, who teaches home buying classes, always advises his student to hire a professional home inspector.