No one should sign the papers making a home theirs until they make sure they know what they’re getting into. That means getting a building inspector to check over the whole house and make sure that there’s nothing wrong, either structurally or internally. This means you can’t rely on your local government inspector – you need to hire someone who’ll do the job thoroughly.
There’s more than one kind of inspection report, and which one you’ll choose will depend on what you need out of your inspection. If you only want to know about structural items like the ceiling and roof, the walls, floors and footings, you should choose a structural report. This is best if you feel like you’re qualified to do the non-structural parts of the inspection, or if you’re planning a total renovation anyway.
If you don’t feel like doing the non-structural inspection work yourself, look for a report that will cover the whole building. That gets you an inspection of all the structural elements, as well as power and plumbing, termite inspection, cabinets, windows and doors, drainage and everything that might require major maintenance. That comes out to an almost total audit of your prospective new home, and it lets you know about problems well in advance.
Some people believe that they don’t need to get a home inspection, but they couldn’t be more wrong. The relatively small fee you pay for a home inspection is well worth it to ensure that you aren’t buying a home that needs an entirely new roof, has a sagging foundation, or is full of termites!
If there’s damage to your new home that you don’t know about, it could cost you a lot of money to repair. When you think about it that way, a report that complies with your local building codes, carried out by a registered builder, isn’t really all that costly, and it definitely isn’t optional.
You might be surprised by all the problems that turn up in houses that look perfectly sound. From a sagging roof to cracks in the walls and floors, rising damp, leaking plumbing and electrical faults, there are a lot of things that can go wrong with a home. A qualified, experienced home inspector who knows what to look for isn’t something you can do without.
Of course, you should be certain that you know who you’re hiring for the job. Make sure that you’re working with an inspector that has a good reputation, is very thorough, and has the training required doing the job right. Then you’ll be sure that you’re buying the home you think you are.
If you’re lucky, your inspector won’t find anything wrong. Then, you’ll have the peace of mind that comes with knowing your home is safe and ready to live in. However, if something is damaged, a home inspector can help you find out about it and steer clear of paying too much for a home that has problems.