Even though purchasing a home is one of the biggest investments you’ll ever make, there are still some out there who don’t think a home inspection is important before finalizing your selection.
If you’re one of them, you may think, “I can tell if all the lights work! It doesn’t take an expert to figure that out.”
Perhaps you just don’t think it’s worth the few hundred dollars to have an inspector check out your few hundred-thousand dollar home. Perhaps the home is brand new, so you assume it must be flawless.
Consider these points before you say no to a pro.
1. Not every problem is obvious.
There are, of course, common problems that you can probably spot on your own, such as stuck windows and broken switches. However, there are plenty of issues that the common home buyer would not discover on his or her own. For example, would you be able to identify the following?
– A fireplace that is in an unsafe condition
– Improperly installed hot water heaters
– Signs of prior flooding
– Poor ventilation for the a dryer or stove
– Faulty wiring on a central air conditioning unit
Any one of those could cost big bucks to address after you’ve purchased your home.
2. Just because a home is new doesn’t mean it’s flawless.
Often people who are purchasing a newly constructed home make the assumption that there couldn’t possibly be any issues. But think about it – have you ever purchased something new, only to find out that there was a fatal flaw requiring a return or exchange?
New construction doesn’t necessarily mean well-done construction.
3. An inspection may give you a bargaining chip.
If issues are uncovered in an inspection – especially critical ones, such as faulty wiring, a roof in need of replacement, and the like – you then have the power to go back to the seller with the issues uncovered and attempt to negotiate. You may end up reducing the cost of the home, or have those issues addressed before the purchase is finalized.
All things considered, the cost of an inspection shouldn’t outweigh the peace of mind it will provide. Call a licensed home inspector so you be sure the inspection will be thorough.
