Posted on Tue, Sep 29, 2009
Purchasing a new home can certainly be a daunting and intimidating experience. Many new home owners worry if they are buying a quality home that will not cause them additional concern. The simplest way to set your mind at ease is to have your new house inspected by a licensed, qualified and competent inspector before closing. Choosing the right inspector is not something that should be taken lightly. There are many factors to be considered. Once you have the right person for the job you will also want to make sure that you accompany them throughout the house. This not only ensures that they are inspecting the house thoroughly, but it will give you an education on the construction and inner workings of the home. If anything is found that needs repair you will want to bring it to the attention of the builder. If you're buying a pre-owned home, you can negotiate the price based on the inspection results.
As aforementioned, choosing the right inspector is imperative. You will want to look into any potential inspectors credentials. Most states do require that an inspector be licensed and follow similar standards of practice. In addition, you will also want to know if they belong to a national inspector association like InterNACHI, ASHI or CAHPI, among others. Just knowing who they are on paper is not enough. Speaking with them in advance is also an excellent idea. Do not hesitate to ask any questions you may have.
A few questions you may want to have on your mind for the inspector are:
- How long have you been inspecting houses?
- Is home inspection your primary business?
- Do you specialize in residential inspections?
- Will I be able to join you on this inspection?
- How long will it take and what is it going to cost?
- And perhaps one of the most important question may be:
Do you participate in continuing your education on the process of home inspection?
A crucial thing to remember is that just because an inspector has been working longer does not necessarily make them more qualified. Any inspector should be able to provide you with references and a history of their work to put your mind at ease. In addition, a lot of inspectors do have access to partners to gain additional knowledge if an issue should arise.
Following along on the inspection can make a colossal difference. Many of the things he or she will say through the course of the inspection will not make it to the final written report, and the process can be very educational. If the inspector denies you the right to accompany them during the inspection, this could be a cause for concern.
Inspecting a house can be time consuming, but is very necessary to avoid unwanted repairs and financial burden. The time put into this process can vary just as much as the cost. A typical inspection of a single family house can take two to three hours and cost $300-$500. Nevertheless, this investment of time and money will save you from having to make a repair in the future that will take days or weeks instead of hours and cost thousands instead of hundreds.
Following these simple but important guidelines will further secure your important investment. Educate yourself on the inspector before allowing them to educate you on the positives and negatives of the house you are potentially acquiring. This small, yet significant, step could be just what you need to save yourself from unnecessary stress.
And most importantly, if there are any problems with the construction of your home prior to closing, DO NOT CLOSE. There are laws that protect you as a buyer, and you must exercise your rights to force the builder to fix their problems. You cannot take them for their word that the problems will be fixed after closing. If you're buying the home pre-owned, it's best that the previous owner fix all problems before buying, unless of course it's a foreclosure.
If you have any further questions about the home inspection process or if you need help with your Houston home search, please don't hesitate to contact us for a free consultation.
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