Getting More out of a House Inspection

A house inspection can be the best move you make when shopping for a home. You’ve patiently shopped around for weeks, or even months, and you’re looking to make an offer on a new house. This is a critical point in the process where some people forget, or even opt out of a house inspection because everything looks fine on the surface. But the truth is that even new construction homes should always receive a thorough house inspection. Here are a few tips to get the most out of your next house inspection.

1. Give the home a thorough look for yourself. Once you’ve had a chance to walk through the home, it’s a good idea to take a step back and look past the bells and whistles. This should be done before you make an offer on the house. Turn on the lights, flush the toilets, look at the appliances, and even walk around the outside of the home and look for cracks in the foundation. If you notice several issues as you walk around the home, then that should raise a red flag. A little inspection on your own may be all that it takes to notice a few major issues and save you some money by walking away.
2. Choose the right inspector. When it’s time for your house inspection, do some research to find the right inspector. Choose a licensed company that has an outstanding reputation for offering thorough, honest services to ensure that you are getting the best value. Although your friends or family members may be knowledgeable, we strongly encourage you to find a professional who can provide an honest, unbiased assessment of the property.
3. Attend the house inspection. We’re not expecting you to take notes on every inspection detail; that’s what the inspection report is for. However, we do encourage you to attend the house inspection so that your inspector can answer any questions you may have.
4. Make a list of repairs. An honest and complete house inspection will likely shine a light on a handful of needed repairs. Some repairs may be large while others may be small DIY projects. Regardless, make a list of all the repairs, along with estimated costs to help determine if you can afford them.
5. Always make your offer contingent on a house inspection, and don’t be afraid to walk away if the issues are too complicated and costly. Too often, home buyers fall in love with a home and choose to go through with a purchase, even after their house inspection shows major issues with the property. Don’t be afraid to walk away if major issues, such as a cracked foundation, are brought to your attention during the inspection.
6. Get creative with negotiations. Once you have your house inspection report, you have a chance to counter offer your original offer on the house. Take this opportunity to negotiate repairs that need to be done to the home. Often the seller will be willing to either make the repairs or lower the selling price of the home to balance out the cost of repairs.

A house inspection is arguably the most important step of the buying process. Once you find your next dream home, get in touch with your local Inspect-It 1st location. We will provide you with an honest and thorough house inspection so that you can better understand everything about the home before your purchase. Buying a house is a big step! You can trust Inspect-It 1st to help you take that step with the highest standard of professionalism in the business.