Why should I get a home inspection?

A home inspection is not required for a purchase but it is very important to have one done.

Having an inspection done will help in preventing any costly repairs needed in the future. There will always be some minor things found i.e.: leaky faucet, etc. But any major problems you want to find out beforehand.

A home inspection is not the same as an appraisal. Even though your home will be appraised you should still have a home inspection done. An appraisal is done to estimate the value of the property and to notice more of the obvious features and some of the obvious deficiencies in home. An inspection really gets into the home and provides a thorough inspection of all the details of the home, such as tests and checks the furnace, attics, looks for mold, and checks the home with a "fine tooth comb" to make sure there are no problems structurally or functionally.

Having an inspection performed does not guarantee that your new home will be free from defects, however it may help identify any potential problems. You should view an inspection as extra insurance because you are having a professional look for problems you may not be able to identify yourself. If you are still concerned with possible problems you should look into getting a home warranty which will protect you from any defects with the home.

Looks can be deceiving. You may be dealing with a seller who painted over a water damaged ceiling without repairing a leaky roof or who hung pictures over holes in the walls. Only a thorough inspection by someone who knows buildings well will give you the peace of mind that a home is sound.

If the inspectors you hire find problems with the property you’re under contract to buy, the seller does not necessarily have to fix everything reported. Those items then become a matter of negotiation. Of course, your purchase contract must address your rights to negotiate, or you can’t do anything!

The cost of a home inspection is minimal compared to the cost of doing major repairs to the home once you've purchased it. The findings of the home inspector may even make you change your mind about buying that particular property.