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Whether you are buying or selling a home, you should have a professional
home inspection performed.
A home inspection will look at the systems that make up the building
such as:
- Structural elements, foundation, framing etc
- Plumbing systems
- Roofing
- Electrical systems
- Cosmetic condition, paint, siding etc
If you are buying a home, you need to know exactly what you are
getting. A home inspection, performed by a professional home inspector,
will reveal any hidden problems with the home so that they may be
addressed BEFORE the deal is closed. You should require an inspection
at the time you make a formal offer. Make sure the contract has
an inspection contingency. Then, hire your own inspector and pay
close attention to the inspection report. If you arent comfortable
with what he finds, you should kill the deal.
Likewise, if you are selling a home, you want to know about such
potential hidden problems before your house goes on the market.
Almost all contracts include the condition that the contract is
contingent upon completion of a satisfactory inspection. And most
buyers are going to insist that the inspection be a professional
home inspection, usually by an inspector they hire. If the buyers
inspector finds a problem, it can cause the buyer to get cold feet
and the deal can often fall through. At best, surprise problems
uncovered by the buyers inspector will cause delays in closing,
and usually you will have to pay for repairs at the last minute,
or take a lower price on your home.
Its better to pay for your own inspection before putting your home
on the market. Find out about any hidden problems and correct them
in advance. Otherwise, you can count on the buyers inspector finding
them, at the worst possible time.
When interviewing a home inspector, ask the inspector what type
of report format he or she provides. There are many styles of reports
used by property inspectors, including the checklist, computer generated
inspection programs, and the narrative style.
Some reports are delivered on site and some may take as long as
4 - 6 days for delivery. All reporting systems have pros and cons.
The most important issue with an inspection report is the descriptions
given for each item or component. A report that indicates the condition
as "Good", "Fair" or "Poor" without
a detailed explanation, is vague and can be easily misinterpreted.
An example of a vague condition would be:
Kitchen Sink: Condition - Good, Fair, or Poor.
None of these descriptions gives the homeowner an idea what is
wrong. Does the sink have a cosmetic problem? Does the home have
a plumbing problem? A good report should supply you with descriptive
information on the condition of the site and home. An example of
a descriptive condition is:
Kitchen sink: Condition - Minor wear, heavy wear, damaged, rust
stains, or chips in enamel finish. Recommend sealing sink at counter
top.
As you can see, this narrative description includes a recommendation
for repair. Narrative reports without recommendations for repairing
deficient items may be difficult to comprehend, should your knowledge
of construction be limited.
Take the time and become familiar with your report. Should the
report have a legend, key, symbols or icons, read and understand
them thoroughly. The more information provided about the site and
home, the easier to understand the overall condition.
At the end of the inspection your inspector may provide a summary
with a question and answer period. Use this opportunity to ask questions
regarding terms or conditions that you may not be familiar with.
A good inspector should be able to explain the answers to your questions.
If for some reason a question cannot be answered at the time of
the inspection, the inspector should research the question and obtain
the answer for you. For instance, if the inspector's report states
that the concrete foundation has common cracks, be sure to ask,
"Why are they common?" The answer you should receive will
be along these lines: common cracks are usually due to normal concrete
curing and or shrinkage. The inspector's knowledge and experience
is how the size and characteristics of the cracking is determined.
We recommend that you accompany your inspector through the entire
inspection if possible. This helps you to understand the condition
of the home and the details of the report.
Read the report completely and understand the condition of the
home you are about to purchase. After all, it is most likely one
of the largest investments you will ever make.
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