Purchasing a house is a very big investment. Selling your home is an equally important transaction. The decision to buy or sell a property is a decision that changes your life. There are many emotions involved and with all that is going on, you probably are hesitant to spend more money or give up additional time for a home inspection. I urge you to think again!
You may believe, as a seller, that your home is fine. After all, you have lived in that home for a while. Or you may, as a buyer, just want to save some extra money. These thoughts and feelings may create a temptation to skip a home inspection, but doing so can be a costly mistake. A home inspection is a must for a home buyer or seller. It tells the buyer up front exactly what comes with the house, and it protects the seller from liability associated with problems that may arise.
What is a Home Inspection?
A home inspection is simply a report about a structure by an unbiased and certified party. There is no passing or failing a home inspection. Rather, home inspection reports tell you good things about a house as well as things that you may need to be concerned about. You can expect an inspection to take two to three hours, and the inspector will check the house for things such as the roof, the foundation, the heating and air system, the plumbing, and other things that require a professional eye. The inspector will pay attention to details that you may miss to make sure that the structure is sound and that there is no hidden damage.
Why Insist on a Home Inspection?
The purpose of a home inspection is to protect you and your assets. If there is hidden mold, electrical problems, or flood damage that has not been fixed, the inspector will include it in his or her report. This way, you can make an informed decision. Sometimes this means that a buyer will negotiate a lower price. Sometimes the seller will have to fix some damage. Sometimes it means fixing something before it turns into a bigger problem. But often it means that the buyer and the seller both have peace of mind.
A home inspector looks for clues that you may have missed and then checks to be sure that everything is okay. For example, many homes tend to settle on their foundations after they have been built. A home inspector will come in and check to be sure that the foundation is still sturdy and stable. Other things they check for may include checks for molds or gasses, such as radon, that can cause health problems.
We encourage all of our clients to schedule home inspections because in the end, everyone ends up happier knowing that the house was checked out by an expert.
For more information regarding real estate closing services in Royal Palm Beach or surrounding areas, feel free to contact us with any questions you may have.
The Law Office of Donna Hearne-Gousse
(561) 582-5670