Do I really need a home inspection

One of the most common questions we hear at Inspection Tech is “Why do I need a home inspection?” or “Do I really need a home inspection?”

Traditionally the buyer pays the cost of a home inspection but can always wave the right to an inspection. That’s not a good idea. You should make a home inspection a mandatory part of the home-buying process. And there are more than a few reasons why.

Buying a home is the single most important purchase of a persons lifetime. The manageable cost of paying for an inspection can save a homebuyer a world of regret and problems down the road. Below are some reasons why it is always a good idea to schedule a home inspection on any prospective home purchase a buyer is considering.

Unseen and Unpredicted Problems

You can fall in love with a home for various reasons. You might love the size of the home, the open floor plan, the home’s exterior or the layout of the kitchen. While the home may look to be in excellent shape, the home’s aesthetics can hide real problems.

You need an inspector to climb into the attic and inch around in the crawl space. The inspector can discover real and expensive problems that are not always apparent when you view the home with a real estate agent. A new coat of paint and some cute staging can hide a world of problems lurking in the unseen spaces of a home

More Options

When you and the seller reach an agreement on the home, you are under some legal obligation to finalize the sale. A home inspection gives you ways to get out of the deal. Once the home inspector completes a report, you can renegotiate with the seller. You might want to have certain items repaired, or you could seek to have the cost of the home reduced. If an agreement is not reached on the items in the report, you can back out of the deal.

Cost Efficient

As I mentioned in the beginning of this blog, the cost of a home inspection is small in comparison to the benefits having one gives a prospective buyer.  An inspection on a condominium can be as little as $300 while the cost of a single-family home inspection at Inspection Tech is only $375. Specialized radon testing is $165.  In the end, the money is worth the investment. A quality home inspection can keep you from having to pay tens of thousands of dollars in repairs costs.

Structural Problems

The home inspector will look at the foundation and other structural elements of the house. If there are structural issues found  the inspector will suggest having the home’s foundation issues checked by one of our structural engineers, who can identify the issues and suggest how to move forward. You don’t want to get stuck with a home that is not well built.

Leaks

A new roof can cost $10,000 or more to replace and is one of the more expensive maintenance costs of owning a home. The inspector will look at the roof and identify the roof’s age in order to decide whether it is in proper working order. The report will point out any problems with the roof.

Safety

An important part of the home inspection is to make sure the home is safe. The inspector will look at the electrical system and make sure it is in proper working order. You don’t want to live in a home with an unsafe electrical system. If you choose to get a radon test, you will understand if the radon levels in the house are at safe levels. Radon is an odorless gas that can cause lung disease.

Negotiation Leverage

You have a huge amount of leverage with an inspection report. You can ask the seller to fix the problems in the report, renegotiate the asking price or ask the seller to contribute more to the closing costs. You are in the driver’s seat if the inspection report shows major problems with the house.

Peace of Mind

An inspection report guarantees that you understand the condition of the home when the sale finalizes which can ultimately bring you peace of mind. All in all, you don’t want any major surprises shortly after moving into your new home. So call Inspection Tech today and let us give you the peace of mind in knowing that you are getting the best inspection in Northeast Ohio!