Why you should get an Inspection

Whether you are buying or selling a home, you should have a professional home inspection performed. The inspector often does this for a living and will normally be much more thorough than either you or I would be.

Home inspections vary widely in the things they look at.  The most detailed is an ASHI Full House Inspection.  Depending upon what type of inspection you choose and what services you request, the inspector may look at the systems that make up the building such as:

• Structural Engineer's Report - Structural elements, foundation, cracks, framing etc
• Roofing
• Electrical systems *
• Mechanical Systems * 
• Plumbing systems *  (*together known as E.M.P. inspections)
• Cosmetic condition, paint, siding etc
• Termite Inspection - Termite and Wood Destroying Fungus
• Survey - ask that any missing pins be "set" at lower additional cost

If you are buying a home, you need to know exactly what you are getting. A home inspection, performed by a professional home inspector, will reveal any hidden problems with the home so that they may be addressed BEFORE the deal is closed.  You should require an inspection at the time you make a formal offer.  Make sure the contract has an inspection contingency, and if you want any repairs or cosmetic items done, that they are specified in the contract.  Then, hire your own inspector and pay close attention to the inspection report.  If you aren't comfortable with what he finds, you should kill the deal.

Likewise, if you are selling a home, you want to know about such potential hidden problems before your house goes on the market.  Almost all contracts include the condition that the contract is contingent upon completion of a satisfactory inspection.  And most buyers are going to insist that the inspection be a professional home inspection, usually by an inspector they hire.  If the buyer's inspector finds a problem, it can cause the buyer to get cold feet and the deal can often fall through.  At best, surprise problems uncovered by the buyer's inspector will cause delays in closing, and usually you will have to pay for repairs at the last minute, or take a lower price on your home.

Its better to pay for your own inspection before putting your home on the market.  Find out about any hidden problems and correct them in advance.  Otherwise, you can count on the buyer's inspector finding them, at the worst possible time.