A home inspection is a standard part of the home buying process, but is it really worth the cost?
The answer in most cases is ABSOLUTELY! But why?
A home inspection encompasses every part of the home: foundation, structure, electrical, plumbing, roof etc. It is so important to know what you are buying. At a glance, your new home may look like it is in great shape, but what are you not seeing?
Sometimes the home inspection can find items that are costly to repair. This is not to say you should not purchase the home if such items are found, but that you deserve a fair price considering these items.
Often times the seller can fix these items prior to purchase or credits can be granted with these items in mind. This can save you a lot of money up front and keep the surprises at bay. In most cases home inspections more than pay for themselves when all is said and done. If nothing else it provides you with peace when purchasing your new home.
The image above shows a leaking drain pipe found in the crawlspace. This particular item was repaired by the seller prior to purchase. Had this item not been found it could have caused future damage to the subfloor and even the foundation. Without a quality home inspection, this item would have gone unnoticed, causing more damage and becoming a costly repair to the buyer of the property down the road.
The buyer was very happy to have paid for a home inspection once they saw just this one item discovered.
When considering the cost of a home inspection, keep in mind that you get what you pay for. Is the inspector qualified and thorough? Do they have a good reputation with great reviews and a history of customer satisfaction? This is one area where getting the lowest price may not be the best idea.
