6 REASONS YOU SHOULDN’T SKIP A HOME INSPECTION
Congratulations! Your offer to buy a home was accepted, and you are now under contract. While your future home may appear to be in great condition, or even be brand new, don’t be tempted to skip having a home inspection, especially if you are buying an "as-is", foreclosed property, or short sale. Here are 6 good reasons why you should always get a home inspection:
1. Protection - Home inspections are a critical means of protecting you as they reveal critical information about the condition of the home and its systems. The home inspection can be opportunity to ask for repairs and/or request a price reduction or credit from the seller, or possibly to cancel the contract if “deal-breakers” are identified.
2. Safety - A home inspection can detect safety issues like radon, carbon monoxide, and mold.
3. Reveal Un-permitted & poor-quality construction - A good home inspection can reveal whether work was completed without a proper permit, or did not follow code requirements. Homes with systems that were not installed to code will become your responsibility to fix and pay for.
4. Planning for Future Costs - The home inspection makes you aware of what costs, repairs and maintenance the home may require immediately, and over time. A home inspector can approximate the age of major systems in the home such as the roof, heating and cooling, plumbing and electric. All components in the home will eventually reach the end of their useful life. Understanding when they may require replacement can help you make important budgeting decisions.
5. Maintaining Your Investment - The home inspector is a valuable educational resource that will help you understand how the systems and components in the home work, and how you should maintain them to avoid major repair expenses in the future.
6. Insurance - Some insurance companies will not insure a home if certain conditions are found, or without the presence of certifications like Wind Mitigation and four-point inspections.
The Bottom Line… It is your responsibility to understand as much as possible about the property you may soon call home, so absolutely do not skip the investment of a good quality home inspection!
