Dot Your I’s And Cross Your T’s: Home Inspection Tips for Buyers
So you’re buying a house? First, congratulations are in order. Give yourself a big old pat on the back. Are you done? Alright, now it’s time to get down to business. The first, and debatably only, thing you really need to know when buying a house is that there’s an assortment of steps you need to take before you can finally rest. One of these tedious steps is getting a home inspection.
Now, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that a home inspection isn’t the most exciting thing in the world. Far from it, actually. But when it comes to either buying or selling a home, it is an absolute necessity. The idea may seem daunting, especially if it’s the first time having a home inspection. But there’s no need to fear because when you break it down into smaller pieces, the process of a home inspection is as simple as ABC.
It’s Official!: Making The Home Inspection Legitimate
Nothing is official until it’s in writing. This is a universal truth that is used within every form of business. So, of course, the same goes for home inspections. It is absolutely imperative that you make sure it is written into some form of contract when having a home inspection. Most of the time, buyers will edit this into their contract as something that’s called a contingency clause. This essentially is an action or condition that must be met to be binding for the contract.
This clause is also beneficial to the buyer of the house because it can give them a specific time frame to have a home inspection on their prospective house. The clause makes the home inspection official and accountable, but it allows the buyer to use it as leverage for negotiating price. And who doesn’t want to save a few bucks when they can?
Reach For The Stars. Or, on Second Thought Don’t: Keep Expectations Low
Everyone wants the perfect home. It’s what we all dream of when we grow up and plan out our futures. But unless you find the home of Tony Soprano or Don Draper, you’re more likely going to end up with something more like Roseanne’s. This is why it’s important to keep realistic expectations when it comes to your home inspection. The worst mistake any potential buyer can make is expecting their home inspection to go flawlessly without a single flaw noticed. This is almost never the case.
There’s also the notion of the home inspection itself not covering every square inch of the house. While most home inspections are incredibly detailed and thorough, they don’t always capture every nook and cranny that the house holds. Sometimes they miss something as minuscule as a section of paint peeling from the bedroom wall, or maybe they miss the tiny faucet leak in the guest bathroom. No matter what it is, don’t expect every home inspection to be airtight.
Ask, Ask, Ask: Asking Questions Through Your Home Inspection
Everyone always made fun of the kid who asked question after question in seventh-grade biology. But you want to know a little secret? That kid made a higher grade than the rest of the class. It’s because they asked all those questions and learned from all those answers. If you don’t ask questions about topics you don’t know about, how do you expect to ever learn about them? This is why it is essential to ask question after question during your home inspection.
No matter how small or big your question is, it’s always important to know what is wrong with your potential house and what it is you’re exactly paying for. You wouldn’t waste money on a movie you hadn’t seen the trailer for, would you? This is the same principle when it comes to buying a home and having a home inspection. Don’t be afraid to annoy your home inspector, either. It’s their job to walk you through the process step by step.
