The process of puchasing a home is one of the most stressful you will experience. A home inspection is supposed to give peace of mind, but often has the opposite effect because you will be asked to absorb a lot of information in a short amount of time. You will be given a written report, a checklist, hundreds of photographs and written reports in addition to what the inspector says during his inspection. This can all be overwhelming.
Relax, most of a home inspection consists of maintenance recommendations, life expectancies and minor imperfections. These are good to know about however, the important issues fall into the four categories below.
1. MAJOR DEFECTS - An example of this would be structural failure. 2. THINGS THAT MAY LEAD TO A MAJOR DEFECT - A small roof flashing leak, for example. 3. THINGS THAT MAY HINDER YOUR ABILITY TO FINANCE, LEGALLY OCCUPY OR INSURE THE HOME. 4. SAFETY HAZARDS - An example of this might be a live buss bar at the electrical panel.
SELLERS - By making repairs and revealing the condition of the property to a prospective buyer, you allow them to feel comfortable in their decision to purchase. Also, a home inspection helps to reduce the problems that may slow down or even put a halt to a sale.
BUYERS - A home inspection makes you aware of the condition of all major systems of the home you wish to purchase. Once you are armed with the knowledge of the property's condition you can feel confident with whatever decision you make.
AGENTS - It has become a trend for real estate professionals to encourage and often require a buyer to invest in a home inspection prior to puchasing. It is also becoming just as common that they suggest a pre-listing inspection to their seller-client.