Inspecting before Buying a Home

A Home Buying Article Contributed by Robert Scalia

What is a Home Inspection and How Does It Fit in to Buying a Home?

Before buying a home, most people will recommend getting an inspection. In fact, it has practically become second nature.

For those who do not know, a home inspector evaluates the structure of the house. A home inspector will also provide detailed feedback on the various systems that make a house work: things like the roof, plumbing, electrical system, heating and air conditioning units, insulation, doors, windows and more.

Is an Inspection Required before Buying a Home?

When buying a home, home inspections are rarely required. They are usually optional and must be paid from your own pocket. So do you really need one? You bet you do.

In some cases, an inspection might be necessary when buying a home. Lenders, for example, often require a pest inspection at the very least to make sure your new home is free of termites and other destructive insects. If the structure is found to be infected, the lender will then ask that you hire someone to verify the structural integrity of the home.

Now money might be tight and an inspection might seem like an unneeded expense.But getting an inspection done might save you the hassle of lugging all your belongings into the home of your dreams, only to find out several months down the road that the air conditioning unit doesn't actually cool the house all that well. Or perhaps discovering that portions of the electrical system are not up to par - or that the chimney needs repair. When buying a home, these are some of the surprises that will not be very pleasant after the fact.

So When Buying a Home, What Can You Do to Get the Inspection Working for You?

For starters, your offer to purchase when buying a home should have included in it a detailed statement regarding your rights to a home inspection. A standard real estate contract will sometimes give you the right to back out of a contract if a home inspection uncovers more problems than you can handle

When it's time to select the right person for the job, keep in mind that an experienced inspector is always your best bet. Everybody out there will know a friend or family member who claims they can perform an inspection based on some building experience. But what if that person screws up or misses a major problem? You don't want to create hard feeling in the family.

Keep in mind that experienced inspectors have gone through hundreds, or even thousands, of homes. they have the routing down packed. They know exactly what they are looking for.

And remember, don't discount problems to a home just because you have already fallen in love with it. When you get down to it, you'll love that house less and less everyday if it turns out to be a financial black hole. Only an inspector can fully be objective when it comes to your home.