Inspections

Ten Questions to Ask Before an Inspection

Author: Grant Eckert

There are many things that you are going to want to ask before you have a home inspection. When it is time for you to begin preparations for your home inspection, there are probably all kinds of things that are flying around in your mind. Therefore, you want to take a moment and compose yourself, and get ready to make the most out of your home inspection.

If you are inspecting a home because you want to buy it, there are things that you are going to want to know. Likewise, if you are having your home inspected because you are selling it, there are also things that you are going to want to be sure that you ask. Therefore, you should make a careful list.

First of all, if you are having a home inspection because you want to buy your home, remember that this is your one chance to make sure that you are buying a good home that is exactly what you are looking for. Therefore, make sure that you ask your home inspector about all of the things that he or she might find.

1. Make sure that you mention that you would like them to look carefully at the foundation, because this is one of the most important things. This is the first question that you are going to want to ask your home inspector. You want to be sure that the foundation is solid and is not cracked in any way. This will make the basis of the rest of your life, so be sure that it is solid.
2. Make sure that you are asking your home inspector about the various plumbing systems. This should include the water going in and out of your house, the pipes, the toilets and the sinks. You want to be sure that all of this is included so that you can make the most out of your home inspection.
3. The heating and cooling systems are also very important. This is because if your furnace or central air breaks after you have purchased the house, you will find that you have much more to worry about and it is going to cost you a lot of money. Therefore, you will want to know if there is something wrong with any of the central air or furnace components so that you can either get it fixed or replaced before you buy the house.
4. Another thing that it is very important for you to ask before you home inspection is for the inspector to look for termites of for other bug problems. Even though these might seem simple, they can actually be a huge problem for you. So, if you believe that you are going to have to deal with these things, you can figure out how to fix them before you buy the house.
5. The roof is another place where lots of problems happen. Therefore before your home inspection you want to be sure that you are asking about the roof. You want to be absolutely certain that there are no cracks, and the home inspector can help you find this out before you spend your first rainy night there.
6. The property itself is another thing that you are going to want your home inspection to focus on, so be sure to look at that. Be sure to ask about the driveway and other aspects of the property so that you can get a good deal on these things.
7. Other buildings should be included in the home inspection. This would mean even garages and sheds. You want to be sure that if you are purchasing these things they are being used for the right reason and you are paying the right amount. Therefore, be sure that you are putting your best into these.
8. Remember to ask your home inspector to look at the fire proofing and the electrical wiring systems in your home. You want to be sure that these are functioning and that you know you are your family are safe in the home. The wiring should be done correctly and should not cause any problems for you.
9. Also, remember that you want to take a look at the windows and doors. Your home inspector should look at the various ways that these work and whether or not they are in good shape. Remember that if you need to replace them it will cost a lot of money, so you want to be sure that you are either getting that taken off the price or that you don’t have to worry about it.
10. Lastly, you want to ask your home inspector about the history of the home. There is a lot that the home inspector can discover, just by looking around, so you should ask about is so that you know what the home has been through.

About the Author:

Grant Eckert is a freelance writer who writes about topics involving insurance including Home Warranties | Best Home Warranty

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/real-estate-articles/top-ten-questions-to-ask-before-a-home-inspection-299463.html

Inspections

What is the Importance of a Home Inspection?

Author: John Carser

When you want to buy or sell a home you will want to have a home inspection done. There are benefits to having this inspection done for the buyer and the seller. This article will tell you what those advantages are and what the importance of a home inspection is. You don’t want to buy or sell a home without knowing this information.

The importance of a home inspection for the buyer is just as important as for the seller. The benefits to having a home inspection done are that you will be able to find out everything about the home before you buy it. This will allow you to see the home up close so you know exactly what you are buying.

The advantages of a home inspection for the seller are that you will be able to find out about any previously unknown problems or potential upgrades so you can address them before you sell. It is always important to be aware of any issues in advance so you can disclose the problems to the buyer if you are not able to fix them. This will allow the transaction to go smoothly for everyone concerned.

Now that you know what the importance of a home inspection is you need to know how to get it done and what your role should be during the inspection. The seller is usually the one to get the home inspection done but the buyer can also have their own inspection done if they choose to. So if you want to get someone to inspect the home you will need to do a couple of different things.

One: You want to make sure that you hire a professional. Make sure that the inspector you use is a member of ASHI or American Society of Home Inspectors. This way you know you are getting someone that knows what they are doing. In Canada there are currently no mandatory certifications or legislative requirements for home inspectors, however there are industry associations such as The Canadian Association of Home and Property Inspectors (CAHPI).

Two: After the home inspection is done you want to make sure that you get a copy of the printed report. You can usually get the written report with no problems but you want to make sure that you ask about any photos that may have been taken during the inspection. It is a good idea to have a copy of both the report and photos.

Three: Be at the home inspection. You don’t have to be but if you are than you will be able to ask any questions you have. This is especially helpful for the buyer of the home because it gives you a chance to become more familiar with the home and it will add confidence that you are getting a good home.

Now you know the importance of a home inspection for the seller and the buyer. Always get this done before you buy or sell a home because if you don’t then you may run into problems later that you could have known about if you had just had the home inspection done.

About the Author:

John Carser is a professional Aurora real estate sales representative. Feel free to contact John for all of your real estate needs including Aurora Ontario real estate values and general market information.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/real-estate-articles/what-is-the-importance-of-a-home-inspection-439387.html

Inspections

Typical Mistakes Made at Home Inspections

Author: Brian Jenkins

When you are buying a home, the home inspection is one of the move important parts of the process. If you don’t get a home inspection, you may pay for a house that has a leaky roof, poor wiring, termite and other pest damage, dangerous asbestos qualities in the air, a crumbling foundation, or more! After you’ve purchased the house, there is little you can do if you’ve waived your right to a home inspection. They’re absolutely necessary.

Even some people who get home inspections make huge mistakes in dealing with these findings. What do you do if your inspector finds a problem? What do you do if your inspector misses something huge? How you react is up to you – but don’t make the follow home inspection mistakes:

Mistake #1: Not Signing a Contract with your Home Inspector

Some inspectors are sent y the city in order to ensure that the home in inhabitable or able to be renovated. However, when it comes to buying a home, you’ll more than likely need to work with an inspector who works for an inspection company. In this case, always sign a contract.

Home inspections usually cost between $300 and $2000, depending on the size of the home and the types of things the person is inspecting. Read the contract carefully so that you understand exactly what you are getting for your money. There should also be something in the contract guaranteeing you against mistakes and omissions so that if the home inspector is wrong or doesn’t see a huge problem, you can get your money back or otherwise take care of the problem.

Mistake #2: Not Considering your Payment Options

In today’s market, it is a buyer’s world. That means that homeowners often offer incentives to potential buyers. Find out when it he last time the buyer had the home inspected. If it’s been five years or more, ask them to partially pay for a new home inspection. You might not decide to purchase the house, but if this is the case, the homeowner will have the home inspection results to show other potential buyers.

You can also talk to the homeowner about signing a contract to buy if the home inspection comes back clean. You’ll be able to consider your options if there are problems, but otherwise, you’ll go into escrow and purchase the house. If this is the case, the homeowner might be willing to completely pay for the inspection.

Mistake #3: Hiring an Inspector Affiliated with a Contractor

Inspection is a tricky business. If your home inspector is affiliated with a contractor of any kind, there’s the chance that his review of the home might be dishonest. He may say that your foundation needs work, for example, but in reality, that might be just to direct your business toward the contractor.

Many states have strict laws as to how an inspector must work. In some cases, it is illegal for an inspector to be affiliated with a contractor or to do any kind of contracting work himself. In other states, this is not illegal. Regardless, be very careful about who you hire. Ask for recommendations and samples of their work before you shell out any money.

Mistake #4: Not Understanding your Home Inspection

If you don’t understand your home inspection, why get on in the first place? Make sure that the results you are give are easy to understand so that you can make a good choice about purchasing the house or not. If there is something that you don’t understand, ask the inspector to explain it to you.

In addition, the home’s current residents should completely understand the home inspection as well. This is especially important if you decide not to buy or are asking for a credit to fix a problem that was uncovered. Provide them with a copy of the inspection report, as well as the phone number and other contact information of the inspector.

Again, the biggest mistake you can make in regards to home inspections is to not get one at all. Current homeowners aren’t necessarily out to trick you into buying a property with a ton of problems. However, they’ve probably lived in the home for years – or even decades in many cases. They may simply not know that there are any problems. By getting a home inspection, you’re protecting yourself and potentially avoiding making what could be a bad investment. Home inspections should be a part of every real estate transaction.

About the Author:

Brain Jenkins is a freelance writer who writes about large businesses for home owners such as Fidelity National Home Warranty and American Home Shield

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/remodeling-articles/typical-mistakes-made-at-home-inspections-403339.html