3 Smart Reasons to Schedule a Home Inspection
February 6, 2008
Whether your in the market buying a new home or maybe an older home, the door should always be open to a home inspection–before buying. Home inspections help you spot potential problems with a house–ranging from dry rot to termites, and from faulty wiring to bad plumbing. That information not only saves you future headaches, but it can also be used as leverage when negotiating the price of a home.
Here’s a look at the top three ways home inspections can help buyers:
1: Cut Costs
Home inspections generally cost between $300 and $400–a cost that can often be recouped in maintenance savings or even split between home buyer and seller. And consider this fact: a new roof for a 2,000-square-foot, single-story home (tar and gravel) costs between $14,000 and $20,000, depending on regions, upgrades, complexities and disposal fees. If you unknowingly purchases a home needing a new roof, that cost is passed entirely to you. However, if a home inspector determines a new roof is needed, at least part of that cost might be subtracted from the selling price of a home or split between the buyer and seller.
2: Boost Your Homeowner IQ
A home inspection can be a great learning opportunity. You will find out quite a bit about the house you are buying and have a better idea of what maintenance areas need attention.
Pillar To Post provides a home inspection report to clients–complete with digital photos–a detailed list and executive summary of findings, and maintenance recommendations and tips, among other things. The reports are done at the time of inspection and cover more than 1,600 items in the home.
Also, if your a “hands-on” type, you might be able to follow the home inspector as he does his or her work. Often, home inspectors will describe what they’re doing and talk about routine maintenance as they perform the inspection.
3: Build a Better Budget
Because a home-inspection report points out potential problems with a house, it can help you budget for upcoming repair expenses and prioritize work that needs to be done.
If you have a good understanding of what it’s going to cost to keep the house in shape, then you can get a much better idea of what perks–such as a new kitchen–you can afford. You may also use inspection reports to help determine what you can afford in the way of mortgage payments and closing costs.
RE Dan Steward is the president of Pillar To Post.
For more information, visit www.pillartopost.com.
Technorati Tags: Home Inspection, Home Inspection Report, Maintenance, Recommendations
Comments
