Here’s a round-up of general questions for home inspections, short explanations about each and some things that should be better asked before the actual inspection occurs. Ask yourself these three questions: Do I really need a home inspection? What are its costs? How much will the home inspection near me cost? I want to know this so I can have someone else do it instead of me.
When you’re ready to find a home inspector who is both trustworthy and cost-effective, ask for a referral from a real estate agent who is dealing with the buyers or sellers. Real estate agents know the “how’s” and “why’s” of the home inspection process. They know how to deal with a seller who is refusing to sign the purchase agreement. They also know how to deal with a buyer who is making a deal based on the inspection being free. Agents can also refer buyers who want a home inspection but are afraid that it will come at a high price.
Buyers or sellers who call off the deal after the inspection or within a reasonable time after the inspection (such as a month or two) should still get a written statement from the inspector. It is a good idea for them to get this because the inspector is responsible for documenting everything he finds during the inspection. If there were significant repairs made or special attention paid to some areas that weren’t addressed during the first inspection, those should be documented too. If nothing changes, the seller should be happy because he saved money and the buyer should be happy because he got a great home inspection report.
There are some common problems that lead to problems after an inspection. If the house hasn’t been thoroughly inspected, for example, then there may be lead paint in rooms that weren’t found during the initial inspection. Sometimes the inspectors find so much damage that they deem it necessary to rebuild the entire home. If that happens, there should be another inspection immediately to make sure the cause of the damage was not from the original foundation or interior siding.
One of the biggest problems that I see is incomplete home inspections. Buyers need to realize that sellers need to do some kind of maintenance to keep the house looking nice. If the seller does not have the time or energy to do it, then buyers need to find a professional to do it. It’s not always practical or affordable to hire a contractor, but professional home inspections save the buyers a lot of money in the long run.
Home inspection requests are often neglected by both the seller and the buyer. When they see the damage, they usually don’t bother to ask for repairs or to see if there are other similar problems. If the inspection requests are done correctly, both the buyer and the seller can benefit. The seller can get needed information from an independent inspector, and the buyer can save money by getting better real estate deals. Always remember to ask about inspections before any home inspection requests are made!
