Q:Whyisit a goodideaforhomebuyers and homeowners to get a HomeInspection?
Buying a homewithout a professionalinspectionis a majormistake.Doingsocanhavecostlyconsequences.Althoughsellersandrealestatebrokersarerequiredtodiscloseknowndefects,noonecanprovidethedefectdisclosureof aprofessional, full-time faultfinder. It is also in homeowners best interest toperiodically(everyfewyears),especiallyafter majorrenovations, to have theirhomeinspected.
Themainreason, a homeinspectionwillsavemoneybyhelpingthebuyerandhomeownertounderstandspecificmaintenanceneedsof a particularhouse.
Preventivemaintenancewillgenerallyprovemorecost-effectivethanrepairsdone after a breakdown or failure occurs.
A homeinspectorwillcheckthingssuchastheheating,plumbing,electricalandstructuralaspectsofthehome.Theinspectorwillalsocheckproblemssuchasroofleakageanddeteriorationandthenletthecustomerknowhowtopreventthese problems.
Themajorityofhomeinspectionsareconductedas a partoftherealestatepurchasing process. It is importantthatthehomeownerobtain a homeinspectionfrom a qualifiedprofessional.
Takethefollowingquiztodeterminewhether a homeinspectionisneeded:
1.Wasthehomeinspected when purchased? If not, an inspection iswarrantedregardlessofhowlongyou’ve beeninthehome,evenifitwasnewconstruction.
2.Haveyoubeeninthehomethreetofiveyears?If the answer is “yes,”a homeinspectionis a goodideasincehomesandhomesystemsageanddeteriorate,evenwithproperongoingmaintenance.
3.Areyouplanningondoingmajorremodeling or renovation work?Whetherit’s a do-it-yourselfprojector a contractorwillbeinvolved,nowisa goodtimetodeterminewhetherthereareanyproblemareasrequiringattentionthatmayhavebeenoverlooked.
4.Haveyourecentlyundergone a majorremodelorrenovation?Itneverhurtstohaveanobjectiveopinionabouttheworkthathasbeendonetoensuretherearenoremainingissuesorneededrepairs.
5.Areyouanolderhomeownerplanning to remain in your home asyou age? Elderlyhomeownersmayhavemoredifficultyaddressingongoingmaintenanceconcernsorinspectinghardtoreachareas.AmericanSocietyofHomeInspectors suggeststhat a professionalhomeinspectorbebroughtintopointoutmaintenanceorsafetyissuesandrecommendwhentohireoutsidehelpforspecificproblems.
6.Areyou a first-timehomeownerthatdoesn’tknow the firstthingaboutmaintainingyourhome? Especiallyif a homeinspectionwasnotperformedduringthepurchasingprocess,orthebuyerwasnotpresent, aprofessionalhomeinspectioncanbe a valuableeducationalexperiencefor the newhomeowner.
7.Do you have small children or a babyon the way?Newparentshavespecialconcernsaboutsafetyinthehomeand a homeinspectorcanhelppoint out problem areas that couldcauseharmto a growingfamily.
ThisarticlewasprovidedbytheColoradoAssociationofREALTORS®.Additionalinformationaboutbuyingandsellingrealestateisavailableat