Home Buying Basics: Why You Need a Home Inspection

Homeowners across the country are learning about the benefits of having a home inspection—an important step in the home buying and selling process. Whether your home is on the market or you simply want to maintain its condition, enlist the help of a trustworthy home inspector to ensure that your current or potential home is in optimal condition.

When buying a home, a home inspection determines its structural and mechanical condition. If there are any problems, your inspector will make them known and estimate costs for repair. You can then determine if the cost of dealing with these issues is worth the listed price of the home or if more negotiation is required.

If you are selling your home, a potential buyer is likely to enlist a home inspector, but you can arrange your own home inspection to prepare. They will help you identify any issues that need fixing, so that you can present your home as structurally and mechanically sound home.

Even if you're not in the process of buying or selling, home inspection is important to the upkeep of your property. Prevention is more affordable than treatment—and a home inspector will help you identify issues before they become a serious problem. For example, a home inspector could identify a hole in your roof; left untreated, you may need an expensive new roof, but caught by a home inspector, you may only require an inexpensive patching service.

A home inspector will examine your home for structural and safety issues. They will determine if your foundation has been damaged by renovations or termites, and verify the condition of support beams. They will also check for safety hazards, including rotting steps, loose railings, and faulty locks.
Your home inspector also knows to look for problems with wiring and electrical boxes, as well as plumbing issues. Water damage can be a deal-breaker in the sale of many homes, and a home inspection can identify potentially costly leaks.

Source: AmeriSpec®