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Home inspections are an important step in buying a home. An inspection gives you an opportunity to put together a repairs list for the previous owner and, if you find something major, an opportunity to get out of the home purchase contract. When you’re inspecting your home, be sure to follow these steps for a successful experience
Inspecting Your New Home: Find a Qualified Inspector
Before your inspection begins, you need to find a qualified inspector. Lucky for you, if you have a quality real estate agent, they can usually offer a few suggestions or arrange for their favorite inspector to come out. If you don’t have an agent yet, start your search for the perfect agent at Agent Harvest.
If you are having trouble finding an inspector, you can also look to one of the big franchise chains like Pillar to Post to find a local inspector.
Inspecting Your New Home: Stay with the Inspector
When your inspector arrives on the big day, they can go around the property on their own and give you a report at the end. However, you are much better served to stick with the inspector as they check every nook and cranny of the home.
Seeing any damage or issues yourself helps your prioritize a fix list for the current owner, and it helps you spot and understand any major issues or upcoming problems before they start.
Plus, you’re paying for it anyway. You might as well get the best information possible right from the source.
Inspecting Your New Home: Ask Questions
While you are following your inspector around the property, don’t be bashful. Ask questions about everything they are doing. Whether they are checking the electrical panel, an appliance, or the foundation, you need to know as much about your potential new home as possible.
Once you close, getting more information requires paying a contractor or inspector to come out for another visit, so get as much good information as you can while someone is already there looking into your home’s details.
For example, we have a timer in the laundry room at my house, and we have no idea what it is or what it does. Had I asked the inspector, I would know!
Inspecting Your New Home: Take Notes
Before your inspector arrives, grab a notepad and a pen, because you’re about to get writing. While your inspector should provide a full report with photos at the end of the inspection, you should also take your own notes on damage, wear and tear, and questions you ask along the way.
When negotiating the final repair list and after you buy your home, you’ll appreciate having records of what was wrong when you bought the home in case of any disputes, insurance claims, or legal issues that come up during the close process or immediately after.
If you are buying or selling a house and are looking to hire a successful real estate agent to help you through the process, take a look at AgentHarvest's list of top-ranking local Realtors in your area. We found these agents by examining their sales track records, awards, rankings, client testimonials and by conducting personal interviews.