Home Inspections are Extremely Important !

Few aspects of purchasing a home are as important as conducting Professional Inspections of the house that you plan to purchase and live in.

There are many things that could be wrong with a house that are not detectable to the average home buyer just walking through.

Some home buyers chose to have their friend "Joe" come check their home for them.  They trust Joe, he is a great guy.  Joe may be a great guy but he is probably not a trained, licensed and bonded home inspector.  This is not a good idea.  You will have no recourse later when problems crop up. 

Choosing your Inspector:

Your agent can furnish you with a list of several home inspectors but cannot help you to select one, for liability reasons.  You must do your due diligence and selection of Home Inspectors.  There are many to choose from.

The choice is yours when it comes to having inspections performed on the house.  There are many possibilities including structural, electrical, plumbing, termites, radon, chimney, and more.  Some inspectors will perform a number of these inspections in an over all inspection package.  Be sure to speak with your inspector an understand what is being done.  With a professional inspection you have a recourse if a problem is missed.  The inspector may be libel to resolve the problem.

Be involved in the process:

You have the right to accompany your inspector as they perform the inspection that you are paying for.  If you are there you will have an opportunity to discuss potential issues before the report is completed.  There is also a chance that the Seller may be at the inspection.

After the inspections, read the reports thoroughly and speak with the inspector again if you have questions.  Be sure you understand any issues they may have identified.

Resolving Inspection Issues:       

The inspection process is your opportunity to discover and resolve issues with the house.  After you make your Final-Walk-Through and accept the house, you have agreed to purchase the house as is. 

If issues are identified that you can not accept, you must negotiate with the seller within a specific amount of time as specified in the contract.  You must to come to a agreement as to how the issue is going to resolved.  Your contract and your deal depend on how this is resolved.

 Link to American Society of Home Inspectors.

Local Home Inspectors