When you buy a home, you will have a home inspection done. This is a rather common part of the process, especially if you will be taking out a mortgage.
Before it’s time to get an inspection done, you should know a few things. Here are a few of the top tips you want to follow when getting a home inspection done as a buyer.
Top 5 Tips Homebuyers Should Use When Getting an Inspection Done
1. Interview Multiple Inspectors
Hiring your own home inspector is a good idea. However, they might have to be approved or licensed in many states. It’s important to make sure you speak with multiple home inspectors before you settle on the right one for you.
You can get a recommendation from your real estate agent and even from friends and family. How you find a home inspector isn’t as big of a deal as making sure you compare a few to choose the right one for you.
It might be a good idea to make sure the home inspector you hire has been properly vetted. Using a website, such as Inspect.com ensures you get someone that has been screened ahead of time.
2. Attend Your Home Inspection
As the buyer of the home, you have every right to be present during the inspection. You should be present and you should follow the inspector from one room to another and ask questions as they do their work.
This will help you better understand the report at the end of the inspection. Whether you are a first-time home buyer or you’ve been through the process before, attending the home inspection is a great way to better understand your house.
3. Stay Out of the Way
While you should certainly attend the inspection and ask questions, you do want to stay out of the way of the inspector. Your home inspector has a job to do and you don’t want to be in their way as they are doing it.
4. Know What an Inspection Won’t Find
While a home inspection can help you eliminate many issues with a property you want to buy, it won’t find everything. Home inspectors are also not experts in absolutely everything.
Inspections often don’t show structural issues or some leaks, but refer you to a specialty contractor. You may also need an HVAC specialist, or roofer, etc. to have a thorough inspection of the systems.
5. Negotiate
An inspection is often used to help protect you. It can also lead to negotiations with the seller if there are repairs that need to be handled. Sometimes, sellers will take care of the repairs, while other times, they may drop the price or provide cash back to make up for the repairs.
It’s best to speak with your real estate agent after the inspection. They will know how to best negotiate on your behalf.
As a homebuyer, you always want to have a home inspection done before buying a property. Make sure you know what needs to be repaired and what doesn’t show up on the inspection. Most defects can be fixed and the inspection shouldn’t scare you. However, if there is a major issue, such as a foundation issue, on rare occasions you might need to walk away from the deal.
