If you were buying a used car it would be a great idea to have a qualified mechanic check it out first, right? There’s nothing worst than inheriting the previous owners problems. As common as a bad used car is the used home that may appear fine on the surface, but not so good under the hood.
Having spent almost ten years as a Carlsbad real estate agent I have discovered that finding a well qualified home inspector is as important as finding a well qualified REALTOR. The decision of who you hire could be a vital part of buying a home. Spend the necessary time to find a professional that has your best interest in mind.
A couple of things to take in mind when selecting a home inspector is to first off make sure this their full time job and not a gig they just get on the side. You wouldn’t be very happy to find out that the best chance of finding out you are making the worst purchase in your life may be from a shoe salesman that does inspections on their free time. Make sure your inspector has over 200 inspections a year under their belt.
The best inspectors are the ones that have had prior experience or education in a related field, such as architecture, building, or structural engineering. Inspectors should also keep up to date on real estate in the area including new modes of construction and safety. It would be a good idea to ask your future inspector if they take continuing ed courses.
When shopping around for a physical inspector, it is always best to try and get a referral. Talk to friends and real estate agents to find out who has the best track record. Make sure that your inspector is familiar with the area your prospective home is located. Here is Southern California you may have an inspector that knows problems associated with subdivisions in LA, but has no experience with Carlsbad real estate. Another factor to consider is to make sure your inspector is open with you and able to effectively explain their report. Remember if you don’t understand their report it is imperative to ask questions.
The job of the home inspector is to give you all of the fact in regard to the physical condition of the property, not to give you their opinion of whether they think it is good home purchase. Your job is to thoroughly understand the report by getting the inspectors feedback. It is up to you with the information at hand to move forward with the transaction.
Make sure the seller has a copy of your inspection report. This may be your best ammo in negotiating repairs. If you can show that a repair is safety related or doesn’t meet code requirements, you have a great chance of having the seller flip the bill for a credit or make the repairs before closing.
There is never a reason not to get a home inspection. Whether the home is brand new or 100 years old, you will find out what you need to know about your investment from the getgo. In addition to finding out what need to be repaired you will find out the quality of your plumbing, irrigation and your roof before moving in. There’s no better investment when you are interested in making a home purchase than getting a home inspection to ensure no unexpected surprises once you’ve moved in.
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