5 Mistakes the consumer makes with their Home Inspection.
Buying a home is usually one of the biggest financial decisions people will make, and having a professional home inspection is an important step in making sure your new investment is sound, and the home is a safe pace to live. But, many people don't understand what a home inspection actually entails, or what they need to do to get the most out of it. The following is a list of 5 mistakes consumers make during their home inspection, and what can be done to avoid the sometimes costly price tag associated with them.
5) Not having new construction inspected:
Don't assume that because your newly built house has passed municipal codes inspections, that it's okay. At Nu Level Inspections we offer a Pre-Delivery Inspection service, and some of the deficiencies we find on brand new homes is surprising.
- No insulation in attics
- Missing gutters and downspouts
- Electrical faults
- Missing heat shield on gas fireplace exhaust vents, resulting in melted siding
- Damaged or missing structure.
Don't assume your builder or contractor did everything right just because the home passed a code inspection. A professional home inspection is your last line of defense against major defects with your new home.
4) Choosing the wrong inspector:
Don't pick your inspector based on price. The least expensive person is usually the one with the least experience, ability, and technical savvy. You should:
- Interview 3 or 4 different companies, and pick the one YOU feel is the best.
- Always ask about professional affiliations, licensing and credentials
- Make sure the inspector is bonded and carries liability insurance.
3) Not attending the home inspection:
- Attend the inspection
- Follow along with the inspector
- Ask questions
- Phone consultations to go over the report with your inspector are important if you were not able to attend the inspection.
The recommendations in the report will make a lot more sense if you have seen the issues first hand. Buyers who don't go to the inspection and only read the report, can misinterpret minor problems for larger ones, or worse, not understand how serious a defect actually is.
2) Not getting repair estimates before closing the deal:
You should always:
- Get repair estimates regarding any significant defects before you close the deal.
- Get a few estimates from reputable contractors
- Call your home inspector to discuss the scope of work being quoted for the repair.
Like the guy who didn't realize that the crumbling retaining wall is $15,000 to replace. Once the deal is signed, there is no recourse for any compensation.
1) Home inspectors are not psychics.
No matter how skilled or how experienced your home inspector is, he/she cannot predict the future. There is no accurate way for them to tell how much longer any given system or component will last. For example, the typical life expectancy of a water heater is about 10 years. Yours may be 12 years old but still appears to be working fine at the time of the inspection. It may last another 5 years, or maybe 5 days...the inspector has no way of knowing when it will fail. Their job is to notify you of an aging appliance, so you can get a few repair costs in order.
Lastly, it's important to remember that the home inspector was hired by you. He/she is there to give you a non-bias opinion about the house. They get paid whether the deal closes or not, and are in a much better position to be neutral.
Check us out online for more information on Home Inspections!
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