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The Importance of a Home Inspection

One mistake many new home buyers make is failing to get a home inspection. The importance of a home inspection can’t be stressed enough. It’s tempting to cut costs by not hiring a home inspection expert, but without a trained professional looking for potential big problems in the home you’re buying, you might wind up spending thousands of dollars more in costly repairs.

Big Ticket Items

Think of a home inspection as an insurance policy against having to replace big ticket items without any prior warning. Some of the things a home inspector will look for include:

  • Age and condition of the roof. According to Angie’s List, replacing a roof is one of the costliest things a homeowner can do, with an average cost of $12,000.
  • Age and viability of furnace and central air. Replacing a furnace and central air can run in the thousands of dollars. While there are no guarantees, a home inspector may be able to give you an idea if you’ll need to replace the heating and cooling in the next few months or if you’ll have years before needing to replace it.
  • Foundation issues: If a home has serious foundation problems, repairs can run into tens of thousands of dollars and may be tricky to complete. These issues can also cause other problems, such as buckling of flooring and cracks in the walls.

Types of Home Inspections

When it comes to home inspections, there are a couple of different types of inspections you’ll want to be sure to get before closing on the home.

  • General home inspection– A general inspection will check for everything from electrical issues to whether pipes are wrapped under the house. The inspector will check the roof, furnace, walls, doors, plumbing, foundation and so on.
  • Termite inspection – A termite inspection will check for any signs of current or past damage from termites. Sometimes the general home inspector will conduct this inspection as an add-on service. Sometimes you have to get a different individual to perform the inspection. Talk to your home inspector to see what he or she recommends.
  • Radon test – Radon is a gas that is formed when radium breaks down. It is hazardous to the health of those who live in the home. This is a test that conducted with a kit that is left in the home so measurements can be collected. Many home inspectors also offer this service as an add-on to the general inspection.

You can also do additional test for water safety (if on well water) and septic tanks.

Having a home inspected gives you peace of mind that the house you’re purchasing is solid and you’re far less likely to run into any pricey repairs.

To connect with home inspectors and figure out which tests you need, connect with real estate professionals like Daniel and Bonnie Wan. You can count on Team Wan to guide you and offer advice even if you’ve never purchased a home before.

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