Hello World! Welcome Friends! First, let us congratulate you on finding your dream home! We know it’s a beautiful feeling that you are soon going to be a homeowner.
And if you haven’t yet found the house of your choice, check out some beautiful countryside options on Ballymore Homes, see more here.
Once you have finalized your home, move to the next step—inspection. Here is the ultimate home buying inspection checklist for you.
A home inspection is a time-consuming task, and your excitement of moving into your new abode can make you do away with the inspection process or do it half-heartedly. You may also overlook a few things because you don’t know what to observe closely in a house. Don’t worry because with this checklist you will be able to finish the process soon without any hiccups and misses.
There are three areas to focus on in a home inspection:
- Outside the house
- Inside the house
- The Neighborhood
When you get your home inspected by a professional inspector, he or she knows which part of a house is prone to damages and how to identify them. Nevertheless, the buyers need to know about the grey areas too. The more you know the components of this checklist, the better you will evaluate the property by yourself.
Let’s understand the components of the home inspection checklist.
Outside the House
From foundation, structure, walls, and roof to the gutters and downspouts, check the outside of the house properly. Your inspector will look for the following:
- Cracks and shifts in the foundation at the base of the walls and ceiling
- Proper drainage system
- Any soggy areas in landscaping
- Leakages in the septic tank
- Any evidence of standing water
- Any evidence of termite damage
- The condition of the exterior paint
- Windows and doors close easily
- Any large cracks in the stucco
- Patches and decay in the roof
- Chimney’s condition
Inside the House
The interiors of a house are easy to inspect because of the day-to-day home management experience. Yet, you may miss or overlook a few small but significant details. Your home inspector will closely pay attention to the following:
- Any foul or strange smell coming from any corner of the house
- Proper ventilation
- Insulation condition
- The HVAC systems
- Floor damages
- Electrical outlets
- Water pressure
- Leakages around the sink and other plumbing issues
- Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors
- Any stains on the ceiling and underside of the roofing in the attic
The Neighborhood
Not many people talk about inspecting the neighborhood before buying a house. Your surroundings can have a considerable impact on your stay in the new house. As your house inspector will only check the exteriors and interiors of the house, you should research your neighborhood, and learn more about your neighbors.
Knowing your surrounding before shifting to your new home can save you from some unpleasant surprises in the future. Try to find out:
- If there are any new development plans for the area?
- How far is the nearest grocery store?
- Is it safe to roam around at night?
- Is there a train station nearby? The noise issue can affect your home’s peace.
- Is there a dog with any of your neighbors that doesn’t stop barking at night?
- Are your neighbors friendly?
How Much Does a Home Inspection Cost?
According to the size of the house, an average home inspection charge can range from $250 to $500. You can negotiate the rates with your inspector but keep in mind that a good inspector will charge for the service quality. Don’t compromise on the inspector’s experiences and skill to save a few dollars. The problems that you may face and the expenses that you incur on renovations and repairing later might outweigh the inspector’s fees.
Who Pays the Home Inspection Charges?
The home inspection costs usually fall on the buyer. However, a buyer can sometimes make it a part of the offer and make the seller take the inspection responsibilities. It is a rare case, and as the buyer, you should prepare in advance for the repairs and renovations. Set a repair budget and stick to it. Major repairs, such as electrical, plumbing, or structural defects, can make a significant impact on your pockets. No matter how much you like the property, you may have to rethink signing the contract if the repairing quotes cross your budget.
How Much Time Does it Take to Complete a Home Inspection?
Depending on the property size, an inspection by a professional inspector typically takes 2 to 4 hours. The time length also depends on various other factors like the ease of assessment, the number of issues found, support from the owner, and whether there is a crawl space or a full basement.
Can You Do a Home Inspection Yourself?
You can take the initial tour of the house with the help of this home buying inspection checklist. Observe each component of the list and take photographs to ask questions from the homeowner. However, experts recommend hiring an experienced inspector for this purpose as he or she will know the loopholes and help you identify problems that you may overlook.
Do You Have to be Present at the Time of Inspection?
Although buyers don’t need to remain present while the inspector is on the job, it is a good idea for them to attend the inspection process. Sometimes home inspectors don’t give you accurate information, and sometimes the inspector can miss or overlook a problem that you can identify. Therefore, It’s much better to be a part of the process than read the report.
What After the Home Inspection?
No home is perfect. Therefore, your home inspection can introduce minor or significant defects in the house that need immediate attention. Once you have the inspector’s report, discuss it with your real estate agent and determine the urgent issues. Negotiate further on the price or ask the seller to fix the defects before signing the contract.
A home inspection is a significant step towards ensuring that you don’t regret buying the house later. Hire a good inspector and follow this checklist before you sign the contract. However, don’t rely solely on the inspector’s report. Do your due diligence.
Click the links below for any posts you have missed:
Millennials More Interested In Renting Houses
Hiring a Professional House Cleaner
Reasons Why a One-Off Cleaning Service is Right
Quick and Easy Epoxy DIY Inspiration
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