Are Inspections Necessary?

It is customary, as well as necessary to have the home you intend to buy, inspected. The idea is to identify any current and prospective defects and problems. This will save you from future repairs that can be quite expensive. As a buyer, it is your responsibility to have the inspection carried out. You bear the expenses for the inspection, as it is to your benefit to learn about the condition of the house you are interested in. Sometimes, prior to selling, the seller may have his home inspected and repaired, before putting it on the market. Despite this, it is to your advantage to have re-inspection done by an independent inspector.

Home inspections should never be waived. Sometimes in a hurry to purchase a home they like, buyers overlook inspection, and later repent. The presence of termites in woodwork will not be visible to your cursory examination, and would cost you thousands of dollars in repair costs.

The Inspection

Though your real estate agent can put you in touch with an inspector, it is better if you check his background. An inspector who is a member of the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI), the National Association of Home Inspectors (NAHI) or the National Association of Certified Home Inspectors (NACHI) is a good choice. Ask for references from the inspector's previous clients and check with them if the inspections have been satisfactory.

The home inspection covers inspection of:

- The home's interior

- The foundation for cracks and crumbling

- The roof and attic for leaks

- The chimney for cracks, etc

- The frame of the house

The inspections also include to cover:

- The kitchen and bathrooms, including kitchen appliances

- The complete plumbing system for leak and rusting

- The electrical system, including wiring and circuit breakers

- The heating and air conditioning systems

- The garage

You can have specific tests carried out at extra cost. At an extra charge, you can have the inspection to include mold and asbestos testing. Testing of asbestos is done by specialist inspectors, and is particularly necessary if the home you are considering is old, and may have exposed insulating material.

Pest and termite inspection can certify the presence or the absence of such bugs, which are highly damaging to the property, especially if there is a lot of woodwork in the house. Special pest carries these out and termite inspectors, who check for bugs, including wood rot.

You can arrange for testing of the septic tank, which involves testing for the overall functioning of the septic system.

The Report

The home inspector should provide you with an inspection report in writing about the complete condition of the home, including the deficiencies. Actually, the inspection report will be focused on the negatives, as it is the job of the home inspector to highlight the problems. The seller may present his own home inspection report, if he finds it to be favorable, but it is better to carry out your own inspection, through an independent home inspector.