Before buying a new home, you should always get a home inspection completed. Be in the know from the get-go with these seven tips.
1.You Need One
Whether you’re buying a resale home or building a new one from the ground up, you need a home inspection. Home inspections show you the good, the bad and the ugly before you commit to buying. Surprises are the last thing you want during the home-buying process and an inspection protects you from this.
2.Check for Certification
Your home inspection must be completed by a certified professional. Home inspectors are specifically trained to identify problems. Ask your REALTOR® for legitimate inspector recommendations.
3.It’s Your Job
You are responsible for deciding who you’d like to use for the inspection and for paying the cost. Give yourself plenty of time to do your research even if you take your REALTOR®’s recommendation. Have a budget prepared, find the right inspector and give him or her adequate time to visit the property. Remember, the inspector has your best interests in mind. They are there to point out all the qualities of the home you are unaware of or may have overlooked.
4.Inspections Cover…
…the home’s structure, foundation, exterior, roofing, plumbing, electrical, heating and air conditioning, ventilation, insulation, interior and fireplace. A general home inspection is a non-invasive visual examination of the accessible areas of a residential property. Therefore, it will not reveal malfunctions inside major components and systems or inside the walls.
5.You Have Options
Based on the findings from the inspection, you can determine whether to move forward with the home you currently have under contract or find a home that better suits your needs. If you get a report with some “scary” items, don’t run for the hills just yet. Most of the time you can negotiate with the seller to cover the cost of some repairs (especially the larger ones). Focus on the major problems and negotiate from there. Some buyers choose to get a credit for the cost of repairs and do repairs themselves after closing. This gives them control over the vendor used and the quality of work performed.
6.You Can Back Out
You have the upper hand at this point in your home search. If the inspection report comes back showing a disastrous problem or if you can’t seem to come to an agreement with the seller, you can always walk away and move on to your next option if you have a home inspection contingency.
7.Don’t Forget the Paperwork
Keep all the invoices and the inspection report just in case. Use the report to negotiate repairs and ask questions about any gray areas. The report could also come in handy years down the road after owning the house, so hang onto it.
Good luck on your home search! We hope this was helpful. We’ve got our fingers crossed for a successful inspection and home-buying process. Feel free to contact us if you have any questions or if you’re looking to buy in the Nashville area!