Home Inspection - Should You Get One Before You Buy?

When buying a house it always seems that it is going to cost a lot more than what you think. Sometimes that is true. Not having the home that you are about to buy inspected could mean that your new home may cost you even more than you were anticipating.

We all want to save money and we all understand that we have a mortgage, maintenance costs, and utility costs and that is only a few of your expenses. But the last thing you need is a big, expensive surprise with your new residence. It should not happen but it does.

Everyone understands cutting costs. But cutting out having your house inspected is not a wise move. Spending just a few hundred dollars could save you thousands of dollars. So why not cut your chances of something going wrong? Getting your soon-to-be residence inspected can give you peace of mind.

There are other ways of cutting costs and I am sure if you think about it hard enough you would find a way to come up a few hundred dollars to have this seemingly beautiful home that you want to buy inspected.

What do you think it would cost you as the buyer if you had to put on a new roof the first time it rained? Even if it was just a repair on your roof, it would still cost you more than your inspection.

The simple truth is that having a home inspection on the house that you are about to purchase is a very smart and wise decision. Find out up front how much this house is really going to cost you before you purchase it. There may be things that you do not want to repair yourself after it is yours and there may be things that need to be repaired that you are not expecting.

There are inspectors that are not qualified to do a good job. But if you ask them a couple basic questions you will find out real fast if they are any good or not. Be sure to hire an ASHI certified inspector, not just someone with a state license. The licensing requirements in Illinois are very easy to obtain whereas ASHI certification requires much more education and competence. Remember when you hire the company they work for you so do not be afraid to ask questions.

The first thing they should be checking out is the exterior, foundation, basement and crawlspace. In addition to the obvious things that could be wrong they should be checking for moisture content in the wood. And they should also be checking for mold, standing water and infiltration.

Next they need to check your roof, attic and insulation. They should be looking for signs of past and present water spots or leakage.

Your electrical system and electrical panels should be checked also. It should be evaluated for proper wiring, circuit breakers and neutral bar. The electrical switches and outlet condition should be checked. The last thing you want is a fire in your new home because of faulty wiring.

The condition of the plumbing and water heater should also be checked. Some people have a tendency to turn the heat up on their water heater. This can be a safety hazard plus it works the water heater harder so it might not be in tip-top shape. The plumbing should be checked throughout the house to make sure there are no leaks in the house.

Have you noticed I have not said that if your inspector can do these repairs let him do them? You should never be asked if you would like him to repair any of the findings he uncovers.

Hopefully this article has helped you out and has explained a little bit more about what you should expect and why you should not hesitate to have your home purchase inspected before you buy it.