Why is a Home Inspection Important?
When looking for a new home, most of us concentrate on the size, layout and location of the home. When those needs have been met we take a quick look at the rest of the home. By that time the emotional excitement of the new home clouds our vision as we try to determine if everything else is in good condition. Not the best frame of mind for performing an objective evaluation of anything, let alone something as complex as a home. This can lead to a very expensive surprise after we move in.
Even the more experienced home buyer often does not have the knowledge to properly examine the various components of a home and determine if they are truly in good shape. Think about it, do you know what to look for in an air conditioning system or what types of plumbing can be troublesome? Is the electrical system adequate to meet the needs of all your appliances?
A qualified home inspector will have considerable experience and training that will allow him to answer these questions, and more. He will also be more objective because he does not have an interest in the home, other than making sure that you know what you need to make an informed decision.
A home is made up of many different systems. The roof and structure protect the home, the air conditioning system keeps it comfortable, the electrical system powers all our appliances and the plumbing system (well, who wants to try to get by without indoor plumbing?). Any of these systems can appear to be fine at a quick glance but hide defects that may cost you thousands of dollars in repairs. A qualified home inspector can discover many of these problems so that you can either have the seller repair them or renegotiate the sales price so you have money left over to make the repairs yourself.
A Home Inspector can give you an objective opinion of the real condition of the home and let you know where minor maintenance now can save you a lot in the future. This alone can save you more than the few hundred dollars the inspection will cost. Even if the inspection does not reveal any major problems, the peace of mind will make it worthwhile.
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Submitted to INSIDERinfo by Robert Sole