Why You Need A Home Inspection....

As someone who has recently gone through the sometimes arduous process of purchasing a new home, I can’t speak highly enough about the inherent value of a good home inspection.  You find the home of your dreams, walk through it, picture yourself living there, and generally become excited over the prospect of closing day. 

Unfortunately, many houses may hold dark secrets.  I’m not talking about a decaying corpse in the attic or the fact that it is built on an old Indian burial ground (watch POLTERGEIST to see how that one turns out).  I’m talking about problems which may not be readily apparent, such as a roof that leaks when it rains, or basement flooding,  or perhaps a toilet that doesn’t have a lot of water pressure behind it, or structural beams that may be weak or otherwise compromised. 

There is an answer to this problem, however, namely an entire industry that exists to know what to look for and where to look for it.  The Home inspection Industry.  These are the guys you should hire before your closing date to go through your house and look for any problems that you may not be aware of. 

Almost every property, even new construction, has some kind of issue that should probably be addressed before closing, and sellers are not above trying to hide or disguise flaws so they don’t have to pony up the money to pay for fixing it. 

Most inspectors will admit to a serious distaste for new paint on a property, as it is commonly used to cover up problems caused by water damage.  Leaking water can rust metal, rot wood and cause major damage over time. An inexperienced inspector can be fooled by a fresh coat of paint that hides a serious and expensive problem.

Becoming an inspector isn’t just something that you apply for.  It requires 400 hours of technical instruction, and only about 30% of students earn a final passing grade.  The education process is completed through fieldwork  and real world experience, usually through becoming an apprentice with an established inspection company.

Inspectors typically focus on certain areas of the home prone to needing extensive repair, from foundation and roofing to heating and air conditioning systems.  However a good inspector will check out every power outlet and switch, virtually every detail of the home they have been assigned to inspect. 

Buyers have a right to know about any defects or deficiencies in the property they are buying, and while not every problem is a deal breaker, some may actually cause the seller to modify his asking price or agree to do work on the property before closing or as a condition of the closing. 

Home inspections may run from as little as $250 to as much as $600 for larger properties.  Home inspectors are different from appraisers in that they do not assign any sort of monetary value to the home.  Inspectors are merely responsible for pointing out problems or potential problems to concerned buyers. 

If your inspector turns up evidence of water damage, contact the professionals at Water Damage Local.com.  Our network of IICRC certified providers is available 24/7/365 to handle all of your water damage repair and restoration needs.