Home Buying Tips: Pay for a Home Inspection

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FEMA Home Inspection,
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You’ve found your dream home and you’re ready to place a bid. Your bid will, or should be, contingent on the results of a home inspect. The home inspection will identify any problems so that you can work with the seller to determine how (or if) they can be resolved. 

Truth? You won’t find a home that doesn’t have some sort of problem – old or new. The question is whether or not the problems outweigh the benefits (financially and otherwise) of purchasing the home.

Hire an Inspector

No matter what – No. Matter. What. – remember that you are not a home inspector. You might be, actually, but when it comes to the home you want to buy, you are not. Get it? You need a third-party to evaluate the property objectively.
You may be jaded by what you already love about the property and could miss something critical. An inspector is more likely to create a list of 50+ problems, small and large – things you wouldn’t have even considered.

It’s important to accompany the inspector if you can, though. This gives him the opportunity to point things out and it gives you the chance to ask questions. It’s also important to remember that inspections only list the items that are wrong with the home at the time of the actual inspection. Inspectors can’t predict future problems and offer no sort of warranty.

How to Find an Inspector

Most real estate agents can recommend inspectors, but it is often a better idea to hire a third-party who has no relationship with the seller or either agent. You can look for recommendations from family or friends or even ask other agents for advice. If in doubt, visit the American Society of Home Inspectors to see if you can locate someone local.

No matter what, a home inspection is a step you can’t skip before buying a home. It may be several hundred dollars out of your pocket, but the knowledge is worth the expense, especially if it saves you from a financial disaster right after making your purchase. 

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