If you’re looking to buy a new home, getting a home inspection is crucial for so many reasons. Having a home inspector come in and check out the house protects you before you buy the house, and it’s one service you should definitely take advantage of.
Sometimes, homebuyers think that if things look good, they don’t need a home inspection. The assumption is that water damage or termites, for example, would leave obvious signs of their destruction, so why bother forking over the money for an inspection? That way of thinking, however, can get you in a lot of trouble.
Look Between the Cracks
Home inspectors check every nook and cranny of the home. They look at more than just wear and tear; they check under every sink, in the attic or crawl space and on the roof. They check the structure of the house, looking for exterior leaks and paying particular attention for plumbing system issues. They even check the condensation coming off your air conditioner and the functionality of your sump pump.
In terms of critters, it’s not just termites they might find, but mice in the walls or carpenter ants that have taken up residence in your cinder block foundation. Even if they don’t find insects or animals, professional home inspectors know the signs and symptoms of their presence so an exterminator can be called. But you wouldn’t know to call the exterminator unless you have someone check things out.
“I Never Thought of That”
While most people think that a licensed inspector simply walks through the house checking for obvious damage, they don’t realize that good home inspectors also note other safety factors, like handrails on exterior stairs and the stability of stairs themselves. They crawl under your home, if that space is accessible, to check the foundation, pipes and wiring. If there are any upgrades required, they’ll let you know.
Sometimes, your house has to be brought up to code because something is obviously broken, such as frayed wiring. In other instances, a problem involves the materials found in the house. Before other work can begin, these materials may need to be upgraded to something safer, as in the case of lead paint.
The True Value of a Home Inspector
When you’re looking at a house that’s had additional work done after the preliminary build, an inspector is just as important. In these cases, work may have been done without permits or inspections, and the inspector won’t sign off on your home until those things are re-done according to code. Home inspectors check the electrical, plumbing and HVAC systems to make sure they were properly installed.
Home inspections, while an extra cost in the already expensive process of buying a home, keep you from incurring larger costs down the road. If a home inspector finds anything wrong, you always have the option of negotiating a price break with the homeowner. It’s much better to find problems before you buy your home than afterward. If you have any question, please contact Zachery at Prime Mortgage Lending of West Asheville.
