The offer’s been made and accepted, and the contract has been signed. You’ve just purchased a new home! It’s a time of joy and excitement. But after a good night’s sleep, the first hint of fear arrives. What if I paid too much? What if I bit off more than I can chew with that new mortgage payment? What if it doesn’t pass inspection? The 5 home inspection tips for buyers shown below will address one area of many buyer’s fears and help you have a successful home inspection.
At Lucent Property Inspections we can’t help you make your mortgage payment (though we’re sure you’ll be just fine), but we can certainly help you with a great buyer’s home inspection. Our inspections are very thorough and the one we do for you will give you peace of mind knowing if there is anything needing attention. You or the owner will be able to take care of any items on the fix-it list, making your home just as you want it when you move in.
To make your inspection a success in finding any red flags, here are the 5 home inspection tips for buyers that will help you breathe a sigh of relief when your inspection is completed.
1.) Find the right inspector.
Your realtor is a good source for a referral to a qualified inspector. Ask them who they know that has the experience needed to do a comprehensive examination. You can also ask family and friends if they know of any home inspection companies that they’ve heard do a great job. If necessary, look on the Internet for home inspection companies in your area.
Do research on the inspection company you are interested in speaking with. Check online reviews and reviews on their website. Don’t be afraid to ask the inspection company for several referrals to other buyers they’ve worked with.
Also, make sure they’re going to be spending more than just an hour on your inspection, and that they have no problem if you’d like to be there.
2.) Do your due diligence.
Not only do your research to find the right home inspection company, but read up on what they’ll be looking for. If you’re going to be at the inspection, you’ll at least be able to be a step ahead and know what is going to be checked.
If at all possible, walk through the home with your realtor before the inspection is completed. You’ll then be able to put together a list of questions or areas of concern for your inspector when they arrive. A good inspection company will address every item on your list.
3.) Identify any deal breakers you have in advance of the inspection.
When the inspection comes back there may be items on the list that you’ll need to take responsibility for. These can include systems such as electrical, HVAC, plumbing. If it’s an older home the roof may need some repairs or there may some structural work which needs to be done.
The cost of some of these items may be prohibitive for you. Your down payment may have consumed most of your savings, making minor repairs a possibility, but major repairs being out of the question. It’s important that you sit down before the inspection, review the items which will be inspected, and decide in advance that if you’re going to be responsible for things you can’t afford to repair when you move in, that unfortunately these will be deal-breakers and you’ll be willing to walk away.
This may not be exactly what you wanted to hear, but it really is something you’ve got to be willing to do. The last thing you want to do is move into your new home, pay for repairs and then be “house poor.”
4.) Ask questions.
During the inspection there are going to be many parts of the home that are looked at. These will include:
- the foundation
- the structural integrity of the home
- the exterior, including the roof and the yard
- the complete interior of the home
- the big-ticket items: HVAC/plumbing/electrical
- Appliances, if they’ll be included in the purchase
These are all very important elements of an inspection and should be thoroughly examined in order to unearth any problems you or the owner are going to need to take care of before the purchase is completed. The last thing you want is to have something missed, only to be found after you’ve already moved into the home.
So, ask questions. You’re probably going to be at the inspection, so now is the time to ask the inspector for their opinion on things you see or things that you think are okay now but are going to need to be attended to after you move in.
5.) Be there for the inspection.
It’s a good idea for you to be there if at all possible. This way you’ll be better informed as the inspector is able to talk with you about what they’re seeing. They understand that you want to know everything about your new home and they won’t mind you tagging along if you want to.
At Lucent Property Inspections we have a construction background and we know what to look for. We have experienced and qualified inspectors that will thoroughly examine your new home and provide you with a detailed report on their inspection. There won’t be any doubt in your mind about what the condition of the home is and what needs attending to.
We hope you’ve enjoyed reading about home inspection tips for buyers. Give us a call today at 309.300.0007. We’re the inspectors of choice in central Illinois, including the Peoria and Bloomington metro areas, and we’d love to work with you!