A Consumer Guide To Home Inspection:

Hiring a home inspection company is an important investment when buying either a new or existing home, as well as when you are selling a home. Additionally, if you already own a home, having it inspected from time to time is a great way to keep your home in great condition, and a periodic inspection allows you to spot problems early which can save you from major headaches and costly repairs down the road. Lets take a look at what home inspection is first, and then the importance for all three groups, the home buyer, the home seller, and the existing home owner.

What is home inspection?
Home inspection is a visual inspection of the components of an entire house, both inside and out. From the roof to the foundation outside, and the crawlspaces to the basement inside, a house inspection is much like a body scan of a human. A home inspection offers peace of mind and can provide a house with a clean bill of health or bring to light important problems which may be defects, safety hazards, or deterioration for example, that require attention and repair. A home inspector works off a comprehensive checklist and will provide you with a report and recommendations. While a home inspection company will not do the repairs, they can often recommend from experience companies and contractors that can.

Home inspection for home buyers:
When buying a home you are making a big investment. Typically it is an investment for the future. Having your potential home inspected, whether it is new or used, prior to closing is a great way to protect your investment and most importantly, you and your family. A home inspection will bring to the table any issues with the house that require action before the closing. Then, they can be addressed and the appropriate action can be taken such as the seller making the repairs beforehand, or negotiating on price so you can complete the repairs yourself.

Home inspection for home sellers:
If you are selling a home a good step to take is to have your home inspected prior to putting it up on the market. As a seller you will protect yourself from surprises before closing and will show full disclosure. If your home is inspected before putting it on the market and problems are found you will have the time to shop around and find a contractor to make the the necessary repairs ahead of time rather than be rushed to do it before closing. You will have piece of mind going without a surprise before completing the sale of your home.

Home inspection for existing home owners:
If you already own a home why is a home inspection important? First off, if you purchased your home new, the builder typically will offer a warranty. It is a great idea to have your home inspected before your warranty expires. If you did not purchase new or have owned your home for many years a periodic home inspection is important to catch problems early before they get out of control. Foundation problems, rotting wood, leaks, mold and more can be minor repairs if caught early. If they are not caught early, problems can worsen easily over time and can become major repairs down the road. You have already made your investment, having a periodic home inspection can help protect it for years to come.

To learn more about what is included in a home inspection, take a look at our sample home inspection checklist. To learn more about hiring a home inspection company take a look at our finding a home inspector section.

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