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About Home Inspections For The Buyer
By Kaci Cooper, 23 Jan 20:33
Even if you trust your seller to disclose fully, sometimes there are things in home buying the seller may be unaware of.
This is why it is always important to have your home professionally inspected. If there are problems, also make sure that you clarify how any defects will be fixed and how the cost will be covered.
How to Word the Requirement
Do not wave the home inspection contingency. By ensuring that your home is inspected before you buy it, you are protecting yourself from a cornucopia of problems.
Make sure that your contract regarding inspection is clear. It is important that the contract states whether the seller, or you, the buyer, will pay for the inspection (usually ranges from $200 to $500). Spell out what will happen if the inspector finds problems not disclosed by the seller, whether this clause requires the seller to fix the problems before you will buy, negotiate that the seller lower the price, or detail that the deal may be canceled altogether.
Be aware that the seller does not have to make any repairs, however if both parties want the sale to be made then it is the best interest of both to compromise.
Finding a Good Inspector
Certification requirement vary widely from state to state and some states do not have certification programs at all. The best way to find a good inspector is through word of mouth. Your real estate agent may be able to recommend one to you, but make sure you get the names and numbers of at least three different inspectors from your agent, or you can ask any friends or acquaintances you know that have had inspection done recently.
What to Look for in a Home Inspector
-Make sure they are trained. Also, as experience is the best teacher, the longer they have been doing inspections, the better. Take note of whether they were professionally schooled and trained.
-Find out the type of reports the inspector gives. It is important that you work with someone who will be able to clearly explain things to you in a written report, not just as you walk around with them (and you do want to accompany the inspector on their rounds through your prospective home). You also want someone who can give you good recommendations on what things are in the most dire need of repairs.
-Note how long the inspection will take, as well as what will be included in the inspection.
-Ask if the inspector has Errors and Omissions Insurance which will protect you if something major was missed during the inspection.
What Will Be Inspected?
There are several types of inspections that you might need. However, the most common is a professional home inspection, followed by a termite or pest inspection. If something extreme is found, for example an abandoned septic tank, in the disclosure from the seller you will want a specialized inspection. Make sure the inspector tests for radon.
Radon Testing
Radon is a radioactive gas that comes from the natural breakdown of uranium in soil, rock, and water. This can be inhaled or ingested and according to the Surgeon General is the second leading cause for lung cancer. Radon is present in every home. The importance is whether the levels are safe and the only way to find out is to test for it.
Other Tests
At minimum, an inspector will take account of the following:
-Whether the foundation is structurally sound or has cracks in it.
-The quality of the home’s overall construction.
-The need of the home for exterior repairs or maintenance.
-The condition of the plumbing system, signs of leaks or water pressure problems.
-Dangerous electrical situations and code violations.
-Whether the heating and cooling systems are in relation to the size of the house and have been well-maintained.
-The interior design: cracks in the flooring, squeaks, whether doors and windows open properly, whether locks work properly.
-The functioning of appliances within the kitchen.
-Whether plumbing is in good order in the bathroom and whether there are no chips in the enamel.
-The condition of attached structures (for example, garages and sheds).
-The condition and estimated remaining life of the roof.
Inspections are very important in buying a home, so make sure you choose an inspector that will work to protect you from future problems in your new home.
Tags: home inspections