Have you ever wondered, after making a major purchase, whether you’d made the best decision? One of the best ways to minimize any “buyer’s remorse” after a real estate transaction comes well before you sign the final papers: hiring a home inspector.
Nearly every buyer gets a home inspection done during the “due diligence” period between the initial offer and the closing. Nowadays many sellers are also hiring home inspectors, to arm them with the most complete information about their home’s condition.
A home inspection is a thorough, detailed evaluation of a home’s visible and accessible components and systems, including the structure, foundation and roof, wiring, plumbing, heating and air conditioning. The purpose is to give the client, whether buyer or seller, a better understanding of its condition.
Home inspectors are professionals, often with backgrounds as contractors or building-code inspectors. They are licensed by the state, and must meet a stringent set of standards. Every inspection covers a checklist of issues that must be addressed in the final report to the client.
It’s important to understand what a home inspection isn’t.
It’s NOT an appraisal. The inspector will offer no opinion about a property’s value.
It’s NOT an estimate of what repairs might cost. That will require bids from qualified contractors.
It’s NOT a legal guarantee against a possible lawsuit alleging misrepresentation.
What it IS, though, is a snapshot of a particular house at a specific point in time.
From a buyer’s point of view, it’s obvious why an inspection is a good idea. When you’re putting up more money than you’ll likely ever spend on anything else, you want to know exactly what you’re paying for. And, of course, when thinking about the place you plan to make your home, you don’t want unpleasant surprises.
Here’s why a seller should also have an inspection done, ideally before the home is listed for sale.
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