The homebuyer is responsible for inspecting the property they purchase to ensure it meets their expectations. In Hawaii, buyers have the option of waiving the home inspection or completing it within a specified time. Real estate agents recommend a home inspection for the buyer’s peace of mind. Lenders generally require a home appraisal as a condition of financing. The sales contract dictates who pays these fees and how.
Why Should I Get A Home Inspection?
Most professional real estate agents will highly recommend you get a home inspection because they know from experience that there can be many hidden cost involved with buying a home. The nature of some issues within a home may be concealed until they become quite serious and costly. These issues can be detected during the home inspection process by a professional certified home inspector. This helps you as the home buyer to really know what you are purchasing.
What Can I Do With The Information In My Home Inspection Report?
In all homes you will find some issues or corrections that should be made, no home is perfect. But if there are major issues, it may be possible to renegotiate the deal or ask the seller to repair these items before you purchase. If the home is not at all what you expected and has major issues that neither party is willing to repair, the buyer usually has the option of backing out of the deal, depending on the contingencies in the real estate contract.
How Should I Choose A Home Inspector In Hawaii?
The state of Hawaii currently has no licensing laws for home inspectors. It is very important you do you research and find an inspector that is properly trained and certified. Most quality home inspectors will be associated with a home inspector organization of some sort. ASHI (American Society of Home Inspectors) and InterNATCHI (International Association of Certified Home Inspectors) are the two major organizations. They both have stringent codes of conduct and ethics, inspection guidelines and continuing education requirements. If the inspector has taken and passed the national home inspection exam, which is required by every state with licensing laws, this will set them above as well. Not only should you verify credentials but look at online reviews.
Are All Home Inspection Reports The Same?
Unfortunately all inspection reports are not created equal. Because the report is the only tangible item you will walk away with after an inspection, it is important you find a report you like. Most inspectors will have a sample report on their website. If not, you can always ask for one. It should be user friendly, easy to read and have lots of pictures. Most importantly, it should be something you feel that you and your agent can use.
