One of the most commonly asked questions by new homebuyers is, “Who schedules the home inspection?” It’s an important question because the home inspection is a chance for you to find out if there are any significant problems with the property that the seller failed to disclose, as well as if there are any possible future problems you should be aware of that may lead to expensive fixes after you close. As the buyer, it’s your responsibility to hire a home inspector and schedule a date for the inspection.
If you’ve never scheduled a home inspection before, it can get a bit confusing. Here are some good tips to help get your inspection in the works.
1.) Schedule the inspection to take place as early on in the buying process as you can in order to leave plenty of time to negotiate if needed. The ideal time to do it is immediately after your offer is accepted. Remember, a purchase price isn’t set in stone until closing. If you find a problem during the inspection it’s within your rights to go back to the drawing board and propose a new purchase price to the seller.
2.) Ask your Realtor if they can recommend an inspector. Your Realtor has probably worked with some home inspection companies they really like, as well as some they felt didn’t meet their expectations. Take advantage of their experience by asking who they think would be a good choice for you. It never hurts to request a couple of recommendations so you can compare and find your best fit. But, the ultimate decision is yours because it’s you who schedules the home inspection.
3.) Call the home inspector and inquire as to their availability, process, and price. Just like all other facets of buying a home, it’s smart to ask questions upfront. Call the inspection companies that you’re considering and find out when they can perform the inspection, how they intend to do it, and what their fee is. When making your decision, take all factors into account instead of just automatically going with the lowest price.
4.) Schedule the home inspection appointment. You’ll want to be present at the inspection, so schedule a time that’s convenient for you and that works well for your inspection company. There’s no use in rushing during the inspection, so be sure to leave yourself plenty of time to thoroughly examine the property with your inspector. You’ll want to be there 2-4 hours to do it right (depending on the size and age of the home). Lucent Property Inspections has a very convenient tool available 24/7 so you can schedule your home inspection online, many other inspectors have this feature as well.
Don’t Waive Your Home Inspection
Unlike a home appraisal, many lenders don’t require a mandatory home inspection in order to release the funding for your loan. However, it’s still not a good idea to forgo the inspection. A home inspection provides you with key information about the property that you may not have otherwise found out about until it was too late. The money you spend on the inspection is usually going to cost less than any repair costs you might need to pay later on. You may know someone in construction you can consult with, but it never hurts to have an objective opinion. Also, the home inspection is an industry in and of itself. Construction workers are usually only working in one specific trade, versus a home inspector is licensed and trained for issues encompassing the entire house as a system.
Don’t despair if the findings of the inspection aren’t favorable. Sometimes they may warrant walking away from a purchase, especially if the seller isn’t willing to budge on negotiations. If that turns out to be the case, consider it a poor investment that you avoided having to pay for and deal with serious repairs. Sometimes it’s the best decision to continue your home search elsewhere.
Now that you know who schedules the home inspection, follow the tips above and you’ll be sure there are no surprises with your new home. Lucent Property Inspections has the experience and expertise to help you with a thorough and accurate inspection of the property you are prepared to make a substantial investment in. Contact Lucent Property Inspections today to get your questions answered. We look forward to assisting you.