Why do I need an home inspection? It is important to know what condition the home is in before you buy it. The purchase of a home or commercial building is one of the largest single investments a person...
The purchase of a home or commercial building is one of the largest single investments a person will ever make. One should know exactly what to expect, both indoors and out, in terms of future repairs and maintenance, says John Crampton, owner and founder of Crampton Inspection Service. He started his home inspection business eight years ago.
According to Homeinspections-USA.com, home inspections give a client a better understanding of the physical condition of the structure than would otherwise be known. A home inspector conducts a visual inspection of the home and its problems. A fresh coat of paint could be hiding serious structural problems. Stains on the ceiling may indicate a chronic roof leakage problem or may simply be the result of a single incident. The inspector interprets clues and then presents a professional opinion as to the condition of the property, so that the homeowner can avoid unpleasant surprises after buying a home.
A home inspection will also point out the positive aspects of a building, as well as the type of maintenance needed to keep it in good shape. The inspection takes about two to three hours and a buyer can be present during that time to ask questions. Large and costly problems may be brought to a buyer's attention before buying the home, which gives the buyer an opportunity to negotiate the home's asking price.
The items covered when inspecting a home are: the interior, foundation, basement, framing and structure, roof, attic, chimney, appliances, plumbing system, electrical system, heating system, air conditioning system, and garage. After the inspection, a homeowner will have a much clearer understanding of the property they are about to purchase, and be able to make their decision confidently. The inspector gives the potential homeowner an opportunity to look over the report and ask questions. "The inspector's job is to inform the client of the condition of the home," says Crampton. The report given to a buyer should describe problems of the home and provide an explanation of how the problems occurred as well as what can be done to eradicate the problem. The inspector does not have the ability to recommend contractors or estimate repair costs. "An inspection is not a warranty, and a buyer should have a second opinion if not comfortable with the first before making a huge investment," says Crampton.
As a seller, if you have owned the building for a period of time, an inspection can identify potential problems in the sale of the building and can recommend preventive measures, which might avoid future expensive repairs. A seller should fix a certain amount of problems before selling a home. This will alleviate any potential future problems between the buyer and seller. The benefits of having a home inspected before selling include fewer negotiations, less surprises for the buyer, a better selling price, and reducing the likelihood of lawsuits in the future. However, "Having a pre-sale inspection given to a buyer does not remove the buyer's responsibility to perform their own due diligence and have their own inspection of the property," says Homeinspections-USA.com.
