According to the American Society of Home Inspectors, most realtors recommend that buyers get a home inspection. The exact percentages vary from 54% to 98% depending on the region of the country.
Whether you are looking to buy a home in Yuma, Arizona or Syracuse, New York, you'll need a home inspector to protect your interests in buying a home.
Why get a home inspection? What is the purpose of a home inspection? If you are looking for your first home and this is all new to you, you'll want the answers to these questions.
Stick around to learn why home inspections are a must when purchasing your new place to call home.
Why Do Realtors Recommend Home Inspections?
Are you new to the home buying process? Are you being told you need a home inspector, but you're not sure why? Let's look at what hiring a home inspector will do for your peace of mind.
1. Make Sure Everything Is Functioning Properly
A professional home inspector will go through the house from basement to attic making sure everything is working properly. He or she will also identify any problems discovered.
The inspector will be able to show you safety issues, minor defects in the home and major flaws that need to be addressed.
2. Find Underlying/Unseen Problems
Your dream home may show very well, but there might be some hidden problems. Getting into the nitty-gritty may reveal problems like leaks, foundation issues or improper insulation, for example.
An inspector might find an unseen structural problem. That is something you don't want to inherit. A house that is not built well is a major red flag in the buying process.
Closer inspection of the HVAC system, the wiring, and the plumbing, can reveal problems or give you good news that all is well. Either way, you'll want to know what your getting.
3. Give You Negotiation Points
When you have a home inspection as a contingency of the sale, you will be able to use the report findings as part of your negotiation.
If there are repairs needed, you can renegotiate the selling price, ask the seller to do the repairs, or even request that the seller pays some of the closing costs.
4. Know Future Maintenance Costs
This is especially important when purchasing an older home. In most cases, the home inspector includes a section on deferred maintenance.
This is a list of things that may need replacing in the next 5 years or so. This will include things like the major appliances, the roof, the HVAC system, and the water heater.
Knowing what is down the road will help you budget for future home expenses.
Are You Ready for the Home Buying Process?
Now that you've seen all of the reasons home inspections are a good idea when buying a home, are you ready to jump into the process? Check out our site and access our full MLS listings to start your home search. We can help you with all of your real estate needs.