Many home buyers have found the perfect house, signed on the dotted line and may think they've watched enough home improvement shows to know if the home they're getting is in good shape. Unfortunately, some buyers make the mistake of skipping a home inspection in order to save a little cash.
Even if a home has already stolen your heart and you're ready to pay for it as-is, you need to bite the bullet and hire a home inspector to let you know what repairs and financial repercussions await you.
Why You Should Hire A Home Inspector
You might know a thing or two about home remodeling and repairs. However, most people are not experts on the inner workings of a home. That is why it's important to hire a professional to search for potential furnace issues, electrical wiring mishaps, plumbing weaknesses or roofing deterioration to name a few.
While a home might look like it's in perfect condition on the surface, there could be major issues hiding beneath its façade. That's why it really is imperative for your safety that you hire an inspector to scrutinize the bones of your home. Understanding any imperfections may also help you budget for immediate and future repairs.
When to Schedule the Home Inspection
Once you've signed a purchase contract, you'll want to schedule a home inspection before the inspection period has ended. Even though you've signed the offer, an inspector could just find something that you just cannot live with or afford to fix.
While you would normally schedule an inspection after you've signed a contract, it's important to have an inspector or two picked out beforehand. Ask your real estate professional or friends and family for referrals and then contact the inspectors for pricing and a list of what they will and will not cover at the inspection.
Once again, remember that the cheapest price may not be the best deal on home inspections. Have a good understanding of what, and who, you are investing in.
Even if you do know a lot about the structure, plumbing and wiring of houses, don't let your ego get the better of you. It's important to shell out the additional money to hire an inspector and cover your assets. You'd hate to end up with a home that needs major renovations and not have known about it.
For more information on hiring a professional for your Stillwater home inspection or for a referral, please call today!
When you preview homes as a home buyer, you can get a good feel for the home's visible traits -- its finishes, its room counts, and its landscaping, for example. What you can't get a feel for, though, is the home's "bones".