It is always a good idea, or even essential, to have a Home Inspector check out your potential new home BEFORE you sign a written offer for a property.
Once you have closed the deal you will have bought the property as seen, or ‘as is’. If there are any problems with the property, it will be too late to try and renegotiate!
However, you can include an 'inspection clause' in the offer to safeguard yourself if you need to make an offer quickly to help secure the property.
The 'inspection clause' will give you an 'out' on buying the house if there are any serious problems found. This could give you the opportunity to renegotiate the purchase price if any repairs are needed. The inspection clause could also specify that the vendor must fix the problem(s) before you purchase the property.
A Home Inspector will check out the main safety aspects of your proposed new home.
The inspector will look closely at the structure, the type of construction used to build the property and the mechanical systems of the property. The inspector will make you aware of any repairs that are needed. They will also give you an estimate of the cost of making those repairs.
What the inspector will not do is say whether or not the real estate represents value for money.
An inspector should check:
- The electrical systems.
- The plumbing.
- Waste disposal.
- Water heating.
- Heating and ventilation systems.
- The main source of water and water quality.
- The foundations.
- Walls and doors.
- Ceilings, floors and roof.
The inspector should also check for the potential for any presence of pests or infestation. Should there be any need for repairs to the property, the Home Inspector will give you the cost of these.
Always make sure that you use an experienced and qualified Home Inspector. If you are not sure, ask around for recommendations from others that have used Home Inspectors.
It is a good idea to be present when the Home Inspector makes his/her visit. Be sure not to get in the way and wait until the inspection is completed before asking any questions. When the Home Inspector has finished, they will be able to answer any questions you might have about the report and point out any problem areas. You can find out about general maintenance and get a second opinion on your proposed new home.
If the Home Inspector discovers a serious problem, they may recommend a further, more specific inspection. You may also wish to consider having the property inspected for things that could represent future health risks such as asbestos, radon gas or possible problems with the water or waste disposal system.
