A house purchase is one of the biggest decisions you will ever make. You can protect yourself from buying a house that is a nightmare to renovate by getting a thorough home inspection. To help you, I have put together a guide of home inspection tips.
Exactly what is a home inspector?
It is similar to a physical examination with your doctor. If you have a general check-up with your doctor, he may suggest that you see a specialist if he finds any problems or symptoms. A home inspection is no different. This is a visual examination of all major systems in the home. The home inspection in alabama will recommend a specialist if he or she feels that something needs to be addressed. This could include a plumber, electrician, etc. The inspector should tell you whether it is a small or large problem.
Start your search for an inspector with your real estate agent.
Some people may question whether or not this is an ethical situation. I don’t think either of these is true. Your realtor is bound by a fiduciary duty to you, which means that they must put your interests before their own. Your realtor probably has worked with many inspectors. Your realtor probably knows which inspectors perform better than others. Having a certification from a nationally-recognized trade organization such as NACHI or ICC* is also a good indication that your inspector has a good track record. After that, read the following tips.
Do some research on your inspector.
Doing your homework is a good way to ensure you get a high-quality inspection. Do some research on your prospective inspector. Look at their website and online reviews, including Yelp, Google Reviews, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube etc. Does the company have an online presence at all? The majority of established companies will have at least a basic website that lists their qualifications. You can read reviews to see what previous clients said.
Do not choose the inspector who is the cheapest.
This could be an indication that they are new, inexperienced or having difficulty finding clients. Each inspector incurs costs to run an inspection business. In order to make a profit, cheaper inspectors might have to perform more inspections. It could be that inspectors are rushing through their inspections, and not being as thorough.
Contact the inspector directly (not through a receptionist). Ask him/her any questions. Is he/she a nice person? Is it easy to communicate with them? It’s not good to have someone on your side who has a bad attitude or personality.
Understand what your inspection covers and doesn’t cover.
The majority of inspections include roof, electrical and plumbing systems, heating and cooling systems, appliances, the foundation, and the overall condition of both the interior and exterior of the home. Remember that the inspection is only a general look at visible items. Inspectors, for example, do not move furniture or take apart anything to inspect. All controls are the same as you use every day. Most inspections also don’t cover environmental issues like mold, asbestos testing, etc. The inspector will point them out if they’re visible for further assessment.
Allow the inspector to do his/her job.
Since you hired the inspector to work for you, you’re welcome to attend. You are paying for the inspector to perform a thorough examination and being able concentrate is part of a thorough investigation. Your inspector might miss something if he/she is distracted. The inspector will usually review the findings with you after the inspection. This is the time to ask any questions you may have and to find out what the inspector means.
Perform a quick inspection.
While it is not always possible to do so, you can perform a quick inspection when touring homes. Pre-inspecting is simply looking at the home a bit closer. Ask to see the water heater, heating and air-conditioning systems. Are they old? There should be no obvious signs of rust or leaks. A quick inspection before you visit a home can help you eliminate some.
I would recommend leaving the family home during the inspection.
Considering the money you will spend and the fact that you have hired a great inspector, it is best to leave them at home. You will be able to focus and ask questions about the inspector and agent. It’s understandable that you are excited and want to show your family the house. You can take the family on a separate visit before or after.
A notepad, measuring tape and a pen are essential if you decide to stay for the whole inspection. After the inspection, the inspector will give you a written report. However, it is unlikely that the report includes measurements of the house. You can take measurements while the inspector performs the inspection and plan the furniture placement. A notepad allows you to make any notes that you want.
Is the seller required to be present?
The seller is not required to be in attendance. We schedule the inspection with the listing agent as well as the buyer’s agent. The sellers can plan to leave the house at that time.
Don’t get discouraged.
You will hear the negative aspects about the home when your inspector gives his/her verbal report at the end. But don’t let that discourage you. The inspector is looking for defects or problems. The report would be extremely long if they listed all the things that were done correctly or well. During the summary, ask any questions that you might have. An inspector who is good will be able explain their findings and let you know if they are larger issues or smaller, manageable ones. Everything is fixable.
Negotiate with your realtor.
You trust their expertise so you should work with them on major items in the report. When the report is received after the inspection, discuss with your agent which items you want to negotiate with the seller. You will rarely get everything you want from the seller, so focus on items that are important or safety related. The majority of sellers are honest, and they are often surprised by what the inspector discovered.
Perform a walkthrough.
After negotiating, if the seller agreed to repair the home, you should do a walkthrough just before closing escrow to verify that the repairs have been made and to check the condition of the property. It’s sometimes recommended that you have your inspector re-inspect the repairs.
Congratulations! The process of buying a house can be both exciting and stressful. Finding a qualified home inspector and doing your research can help relieve some of the stress. The above list should help you to get through the process a bit more easily. You can contact me if you have any questions.