A home inspection is perhaps the most important and underrated part of home-buying. A home inspector will spend about 2-3 hours inspecting and testing the property. Potential buyers can save thousands of dollars by getting an inspection report highlighting the proposed repairs. Your realtor should strongly recommend paying for the inspection if you’re a first-time home buyer. A buyer may decline an inspection for very good reasons.
Note: In most cases, an inspection is tied to the sale of the property. This allows the buyer to cancel or renegotiate the sale based on what the inspector finds.
It is not usually required, and although the buyer normally assumes responsibility, it can often be negotiated between both sides. Sometimes a motivated seller might even be willing to perform a current inspection. This is known as a pre-inspection. A pre-inspection is recommended if the homeowner has an older home and believes there are many repairs. This will avoid any surprises.
Here’s what a home inspection services in chandler looks like, its purpose, and what you can expect to spend on one.
Why You Should Inspect
The home inspection’s purpose is to identify any problems in the house. Some defects will require immediate attention, while others can be fixed.
Here are some key points that a home inspection should include or focus on:
- Mould
- Pests
- Water Damage
- Electrical Systems
- Plumbing
- Foundation/Structural
- Components
- Status of Roof and Chimney
- HVAC
- Ceiling Floors
It is recommended that the buyer remains on-site during the inspection. This doubles as a two-fold.
1. Ask any questions or raise concerns.
2. The report allows the buyer to view the entire inspection process. You might be able to see details in the report that the inspector does not cover.
Once the inspection has been completed, you will receive a report detailing what was discovered. You should carefully read the report. It would be best if you remembered that no home is perfect. You will find items that need repair. The report will often highlight multiple items. Many of the items will not be important to you. The homeowner should still be aware of every detail in the report.
This report should be shared with your realtor. You should share this report with your realtor. If any repairs must be made, your realtor should inform the buyer.
This could lead to more negotiations during the home-buying process.
An inspection may even reveal issues that could cause the sale of the property to be cancelled.
Buyers shouldn’t request smaller repairs. These repairs are typically cosmetic or cost a small fee. These include:
- Loose doorknobs
- Interior and exterior paint
Sellers should not allow buyers to ask for minor repairs. These conditions are not conducive to renegotiating.
Home Inspection Cost
You should expect a near-perfect home when you buy a new home.
How did we get to this number? Some companies even publish their costs online. This is how one Texas company illustrates it.
- Flat rate $395 for 2500 sq.ft.
- For homes larger than 4000 square feet, an additional 14 cents will be added to each square foot
- Swimming pools are an extra $100
- Home older than 30 Years, +$100
- Sprinkler System +$50
The largest financial purchase most people make is buying a house. A report is worth a few hundred dollars. Roof repairs can easily run into the thousands.