When purchasing a home, there are many things that take place that you may not be aware of. Getting a home inspection might be one of those items you might not be sure is necessary. My home inspection checklist is here to help you through that process.
What is a home inspection?
First of all, the purpose of a home inspection is to give you a view of the home from a system deficiency perspective. However, the inspection is for informational purposes. It is then your decision to either move forward with the purchase or not. You want to hire a home inspector that takes a comprehensive look at the major systems within a home. Including:
- Structural Components
- Exterior
- Roofing
- Plumbing
- Electrical System
- Heating & Air Conditioning
- Interiors
- Insulation and Ventilation
- Appliances
Negotiate
While a home inspection might not change the outcome of the purchase, I do believe it is still a vital part of the negotiations process. Negotiations? Yes, if your home inspector finds deficiencies, negotiations between you and the seller can continue. Keep in mind that defects being present in the property does not automatically kill the deal. Some issues might not be a huge issue, and you would be okay with fixing after the home is yours. Others might be able to be negotiated to be repaired before closing.
No matter the outcome of the inspection, it is a vital part of the home buying process. Making an informed decision is key to not only a successful transaction, but knowing that this is the home for you. Some clients have decided against a home inspection only to find out that there are issues within the house that had they knew would have changed their mind about the purchase.
Research
Lastly, be sure you are hiring a company with an awesome reputation. Just like anything else, poll your friends, ask for referrals and then check them out yourself to make sure you are getting the best fit. While they may not find every problem within your soon to be home you cannot go wrong with sticking to your home inspection checklist to guide you.