When home buyers are caught up in the emotional mist of finally finding the home of their dreams, they
may be willing to skip a few steps to make sure they acquire their dream home. They’re suddenly willing to pay a few thousand more than they had intended. They’re willing to go for a quicker closing date. They’re even willing to skip the home inspection process. But all to often these dreams quickly dissapear into a puff of smoke, revealing what could be a nightmare.
Don’t fall in love with a house until the house had been examined by a professional. The house could have any number of problems in structural, roofing, exterior, foundation, heating, plumbing, electrical, insulation etc.
Home inspections have been around for quite a while, and for good reasons. In Hampton Roads, this process, which can cost between $200 and $400, and is often a condition on buying the house. It usually takes a few hours and is easy to arrange. Hiring a professional home inspector is a small investment of your time and money. But, it’s well worth the expense because you won’t have to deal with costly and unexpected surprises once you’ve bought your home. Also you can gain a wealth of information about the condition of a property before yuo buy it. When you buy a house, you become the new owner of any problems it may have.
Not all home inspectors are created equal
While a home inspection is a critical component of buying and selling a home, knowing your home inspector is just as important. What home buyers need most is a trustworthy, competent, qualified home inspection professional. What many consumers don’t realize, is that the home inspection is not a standarized process. There can be a huge disparity of quality and service between inspectors because the industry, and more specifically, the process is not regulated, standardized or carved in stone.
Recent surges in the popularity of home inspections have created an over-populated inspection industry where not all inspectors have the training or experience to do a good job. Anyone can say that they are a home inspector. Be wary of low-priced home inspectors whose only credential is a certificate acquired online, or by correspondence course, or from attending a three day seminar. There are some people in the home inspection industry who are not fully qualified – if at all – and they should not be recognized as home inspectors.
Home inspection is a discipline that requires special training, knowledge and communication skills. That is why it is important to choose an inspector wisely. Home inspectors should have a thorough understanding of all the various systems and components in a home. The best inspectors have practical experience or a background in home construction and related building trades. The more experienced a home inspector is, the more they have seen, the more likely it is they will be able to detect any less obvious problems. Less qualified inspectors haven’t even gained the insite to know what they’re missing.
Reputable home inspectors generally belong to a professional organization such as the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI) or the National Association of Home Inspectors (NAHI), which has set standards of practice and a strict code of ethics that must be adhered to. They rigorously tests home inspectors about their technical knowledge and diagnostic expertise and require a minimum number of completed inspections prior to joining the organization as well as requiring continuing education after admission to keep current with new technology and building practices. Membership is an earned credential which attest to an inspector’s competence and professionalism.
Newer Homes also need Inspection
New construction isn’t always problem-free. The rapid growth of housing starts and the insatiable need for new homes in Hampton Roads combined with declining levels of product and workmanship quality can be a formula for trouble. Although there are good builders in Hampton Roads, consumers and Realtors have no reliable means of knowing who they are. Consumers who find themselves with a defective home and an unresponsive builder naturally turn to their home warranty program for assistance. This too can be problematic as you may have to prove your claim, pay a deductable and many components are not covered.
Given a system that is not conducive to construction dispute resolution, many homeowners conclude that they have no option but to quietly sell their flawed homes without disclosing the known problems to potential purchasers, despite the fact that sellers are required by law to disclose known defects. Home buyers can protect their investment by retaining a competent home inspector to inspect the home, regardless of whether it is newly built or a resale home. While some problems may remain hidden behind drywall, a good home inspector can often detect problems unrecognizable to the average consumer.
Embrace the Bad News, It could be good news in disguise
It can be heart breaking to find out all the problems after a home inspection, but be realistic. Remember that no home is perfect. What you need to decide is whether or not you are willing to fix the problems. Ask yourself these questions:
Can you afford the recommended renovations or repairs?
Are you willing to pay more than market value for the overal purchase of the property in terms of sale price plus repair cost.
Does the house meet your needs in its current condition?
Knowing these problems, is the house still a good investment?
Once you’ve had a home inspection, you’ll have peace of mind knowing that you’ve made an educated decision based on facts. When buying a home, It’s worth it!