The Top Reasons to Prioritize Home Inspection Services
Buying a home is likely one of the biggest investments you’ll ever make. While it may look perfect during your visits, there could be hidden issues that come up down the road. Getting a home inspection can protect you from expensive surprises and give you peace of mind.
As a first-time homebuyer, I learned quickly how vital home inspections are. When we saw issues in the inspection report on what seemed like the perfect house, we almost walked away. But our inspector helped us understand the problems and how to address them. We ended up going through with the purchase, and it was absolutely the right call.
If you’re on the fence about scheduling a home inspection, here are the top reasons why you should make it a priority:
Learn the Home’s True Condition
When you tour homes you like, it’s easy to fall in love with superficial things like the layout, yard, or neighborhood. But there may be problems hiding that you can’t detect as an untrained eye. During the walkthroughs, you probably won’t run all the faucets, flush every toilet, or check behind walls.
Home inspection services examine all areas of the home to provide an unbiased, professional assessment of the current condition. The inspector will test functioning of the home’s major systems and check for issues with:
- Electrical systems
- Plumbing systems
- Major appliances
- Heating and cooling systems
- Roof, attic, walls, floors, windows
- Foundation and basement
You’ll get a detailed report pointing out any repairs needed, along with photos. This allows you to make an informed decision about the home’s true value and what you may need to budget for repairs.
Catch Major Defects Before Move-In
While cosmetic flaws can often be fixed fairly easily, major structural or system defects can require heavy repairs. These problems may not make themselves obvious during a regular showing.
A thorough Home Inspection examines all aspects of the home to catch issues early before you move in and furnish the entire place. Getting repairs done when the home is empty is much easier than after you are settled in.
Some major defects that inspections frequently catch include:
- Foundation cracks allowing water intrusion
- Faulty electrical wiring
- Roof leaks or damage
- Faulty HVAC systems
- Plumbing leaks
- Fireplace/chimney issues
- Mold/pest infestations
The earlier you can catch these types of substantial problems, the quicker you can get quotes, negotiate credits from sellers if possible, and get repairs scheduled. Finding these devastating issues after closing can be a nightmare.
Uncover Safety Hazards
In addition to financial risk from undisclosed home issues, certain problems can also become safety hazards for your family if left unaddressed. Home inspectors have extensive technical building experience to recognize threats you probably wouldn’t notice as a layperson. Catching and fixing these protects both safety and investment value.
Some safety issues an inspection may reveal:
Electrical
- Exposed/damaged wiring
- Overloaded circuits
- Grounding/ARC faults
- Aluminum wiring
Furnace
- Gas leaks
- Carbon monoxide leaks
Appliances
- Water heater combustion leaks
- Air conditioner refrigerant leaks
Structure
- Deck instability
- Windows with safety risks
An experienced home inspector knows all state/local safety codes and makes them a key check point in the inspection. This third-party evaluation provides assurance around safety investments for your family.
Negotiate Repairs or Price With Seller
Inspections serve an incredibly helpful role when it comes to purchase negotiations with sellers as a contingent offer. If the inspection report reveals unexpected repairs needed, this allows you to go back to the sellers with repair requests or negotiate the price down before closing.
Most home purchase offers include an inspection contingency that lets buyers back out if major undisclosed issues arise from inspection findings. Even if defects show up that you are willing to take on as the buyer, you can still negotiate credits from the seller towards closing costs to help fund the repairs.
Having the inspection results well before closing gives you critical negotiation leverage if repairs exceed your budget. Going to battle with the sellers armed with photos, repair estimates, and an unbiased report holds much more weight than just pointing out problems you notice yourself as a buyer.
The contingency also protects your earnest money deposit if the sellers refuse to negotiate the price or repairs reasonably based on inspection findings. So if major foundation cracks show up causing $15K of gutter repairs the sellers didn’t disclose, you could legally walk away and get your full deposit back.
Know How to Budget Post Purchase
In addition to informing negotiations, home inspections give buyers critical knowledge to budget and plan for repairs and upgrades post-purchase. Understanding when major home systems likely need replacement or upgrades down the road allows you to plan ahead.
As our inspector reviewed the full pseudo-inspection report with us, he pointed out lifespan estimates on all systems/areas and recommended budgeting for replacements even if no red flags showed currently. For example:
- Roof: No active leaks but likely needs full replacement in 5 years
- Water heater: Working now but nearing 10-year mark
- HVAC system: Newer unit but budget to replace in 15 years
- Appliances: All newer models but budget for upgrades down the road
Gaining this big picture view on potential replacement/repair costs allows you to financially prepare through savings. So when the seemingly small leaks turn into a full roof replacement earlier than expected, you already have funds set aside to handle it.
Know What You’re Getting Into with a Fixer-Upper
Sometimes buyers purposefully look for “fixer-uppers” either because they have experience renovating or to get more home for their budget. But even seasoned renovators can easily underestimate repair costs/complexity for an old home.
Getting a whole home evaluation through an inspection for a fixer-upper is critical. You’ll fully understand existing defects needing addressed, truth of the structure’s bones/condition, plus required renovation budget.
Inspectors provide unbiased assessments as they are not personally invested in you purchasing the home like real estate agents may be. They want to educate buyers on the true extent of repairs needed to avoid getting in over your heads.
For fixer-uppers, inspections check critical components like:
- Electrical panel capacity for added circuits
- Plumbing/sewer line lifespan
- Walls/insulation condition
- Structure stability for additions
- Foundation integrity
Having inspection results clearly detailing the home’s current condition and required updates helps fixer-upper buyers create accurate renovation budgets and schedules. It also informs negotiations with sellers since inspection frequently leads buyers to reduce offers after seeing required fixer budgets.
Provides an Unbiased Assessment
As eager buyers, it’s easy to overlook flaws or rationalize issues away because we fall in love with a home. Real estate agents also sometimes conveniently “forget” to mention known problems. Home inspections deliver third-party, unbiased assessments keeping your best interest as the buyer in mind.
Inspectors have no stake in whether you choose to purchase the home or not. Their job is simply to educate you on the property’s objective condition. They have the technical building expertise and inspection experience to provide fair judgments.
Relying on an impartial inspection report reduces risk of buyer’s remorse and ensures you enter the purchase clear-eyed. Your agent can give opinions but will likely coach you to complete the sale. Friends/family may also encourage you to move forward once you’re emotionally invested.
But only the home inspector gives you the neutral facts to make a logical decision about the investment or walk away free of regrets. Their detailed documentation helps remove all subjectivity around quality and condition.
Why Home Inspection Services Are Non-Negotiable
As I learned first-hand, scheduling comprehensive home inspections gives buyers immense peace of mind around major purchases. They reveal the objective truth about a home’s condition, future needs, safety, and value beyond the superficial fluff.
Inspectors want to provide knowledge that empowers smart, informed decisions. Their findings protect buyers from ending up stretched thin on repairs or blindsided by expensive issues post-closing.
Ultimately a small upfront investment in an inspection can save you massive sums over the house’s lifetime. The insider knowledge helps you budget wisely for upgrades and repairs down the road.
In this market with house prices sky-high,inspection contingency gives power back to buyers during negotiations. This ensures you don’t overpay if undisclosed defects mean large repair costs ahead. Sellers can also use inspections to make repairs increasing satisfaction for buyers.
While not legally required in most states, home inspections bring immense value that directly aligns with buyers’ best interest. They are an inexpensive tool compared to the immense financial protection provided long-term. I can’t recommend relying on these unbiased expert evaluations enough to safeguard major investments!
