WHY HOME INSPECTION IS IMPORTANT?
Buying a home, old or new, or having one constructed for your family is both an exciting and a stressful time. It’s mostly exciting when you picture your family living comfortably and happily, and making wonderful memories, in your new home.
But before you start this amazing new chapter, you have to go through the experience of having the house inspected by a professional home inspector.
So, what is a home inspection?
A home inspection presupposes that it might have structural problems and, of course, discovering and dealing with such problems is the last thing you’d want when your family is eager to move in.
At the same time, it’s something you should prioritise to make sure that your family’s new home is structurally safe and sound, or, if you’re having the house built, to make sure that your contractor is complying with the proper home standards.
Do I really need a home inspection?
You should remember that a home inspection, no matter how stressful it might get, is a process that you should not rush. In fact, you should make sure, and even demand if necessary, that the home inspector you hired or hired by your realtor does a thorough and accurate job.
This means that you should also expect the worst. It is best, however, to identify any and all problems and potential problems so they can be dealt with immediately and properly. As you should already be aware, some home problems, when left unresolved/unrepaired could cost you more money in the long run and put your family at risk.
One of the most common questions asked by home buyers is how long a home inspection usually takes. Depending on the size of the house and the issues that an inspector might find, the whole process can take between 90 minutes and two hours, or even longer.
What features will a home inspector assess?
Generally, a home inspector ensures that a house’s structural safety, accessibility, energy efficiency, and (in the case of a house under construction) adherence to the original home plans. The qualifications of your home inspector will determine exactly what the home inspection will cover. These are the common property features and issues that a qualified home inspector usually has on his checklist:
Structure
Foundations
Ceilings, walls, and retaining walls
Floors
Guttering
Eaves
Fencing
Electrical
Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning
Plumbing and drainage
Hot water system
Moisture problems
Asbestos
Pest problems
Maintenance issues
What should I do before a home inspection?
Prior to the home inspection, do your research (on the property and the location’s history) and write down the important questions that you might want to ask the inspector, as well as any concerns you might have.
Especially if you’re buying a house, knowing its condition is going to be an important factor in whether or not the price is right and in determining if a house is the right one for your family. You wouldn’t want your “dream house” to turn into a nightmare later on when hidden problems suddenly come out of the woodwork after you have moved in.
