I once heard a buyer describe home inspections as "a unnecessary evil," and I thought, "Really?"
I can't imagine buying a home without one.
In my years as a REALTOR®, I've seen good inspections and not-so-good inspections, but never have I regretted advising a client to get one. It's always a surprise to me that anyone would really make one of the biggest purchases of their life without have a professional come in and inspect the home, all for the sake of saving about $400.
In a recent article on MSNMoney.com entitled "10 times you can't afford to skimp" by Liz Pulliam Weston, home inspections appear on her list. She writes:
"Talk to any group of smart real-estate investors and you'll hear hair-curling stories of properties they fell in love with, only to have inspectors discover the house was about to fall down or needed tens of thousands of dollars in repairs. Having this knowledge helped them pass on bad deals or at least negotiate lower prices."
A home inspector helps you to notice the things you can't see with the naked eye, or with the untrained eye. Termite damage. Toxic mold. An unsupported floor joist. An ungrounded electrical outlet. I know I don't have the knowledge or the training to see these things for myself...do you?
Pulliam Weston goes on to say:
"During the real-estate boom, there were some buyers who made the (weak) argument that insisting on an inspection would cause the sellers to choose another bidder, but in today's slower markets, there's really no excuse not to hire an expert to inspect a home before you buy. Check the American Society of Home Inspectors for details."
Do yourself a favor -- ask your REALTOR® to give you a list of home inspectors they know and trust and then get on the phone, get quotes and choose one. It could be the best $400 you've ever spent!
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