Buyer Beware: 5 Reasons Why You Absolutely Need a House Inspection

Have you worked yourself into a panic as the purchase of a new home approaches? Don’t worry, you’re not alone. Investing in a home is an extremely stressful life event.

Fortunately, there are ways to cope with the stress of buying property. One is to have a professional house inspection performed.

Not only will an inspection help put your mind at ease about your decision, but it also has financial benefits. Let’s have a look at five reasons you can’t neglect getting an inspection.

1. Safety

If you have a family, you need to know the home you’re moving into is safe. An inspection is a great way to pinpoint red flags that need fixing.

An inspector’s job isn’t to ensure the home is to your liking. Instead, they’re there to evaluate the condition of the house and uncover issues.

Problems with the electric system, an unstable roof, mold issues, and bad air quality all present health hazards. An inspection will expose these problems before you buy.

2. Leverage While Negotiating

If an inspection uncovers problems that weren’t initially disclosed or the owner didn’t know about, you can then negotiate a new asking price. The last thing you want is to have to pay for repairs down the road.

When negotiating new terms, you may want to have the owner make the necessary repairs before the final sale. This way you know you’re moving into a quality home.

Because the inspection can affect the details of the sale, make sure you hire a trusted home inspector to evaluate the property.

3. Predict Future Costs

In addition to exposing issues, an inspection will help you gauge how much money you’ll need to spend down the road. You’ll then know how to budget for the future after purchasing the home.

An inspector will be able to evaluate the condition of important components such as the water heater, HVAC unit, and plumbing fixtures. While they won’t give you financial advice, they can advise how long you have before you’ll have to make replacements.

4. A Better Understand of the House

This could be the biggest purchase you ever make. Knowing everything you can about the home is important before you buy and after you’ve moved in.

Remember, up to this point, you’re only familiar with the house on a superficial level. And while it looks great on the outside, the little nuances are what you’ll have to live with.

Make sure you attend the inspection and walk through the home with the inspector. This will give you peace of mind when signing the final papers.

5. It Provides a Way Out

Finally, an inspection provides you with an opportunity to walk away from a bad deal. If the inspection reveals countless issues, backing out will save you serious cash.

An inspection may also uncover problems the owner didn’t disclose. This is an indication you’re dealing with someone who may be trying to mislead potential buyers to get out of having to pay for repairs.

Make a House Inspection a Priority

Don’t let the excitement of buying a new home distract you from protecting you and your family. You’ll kick yourself when you’re stuck with major repairs.

Make sure you have a house inspection performed before signing on the dotted line.

If you’re in the market for a new home, check out this article for information on finding a qualified real estate agent.

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