Why Having A Home Inspection Before Buying A New House Is Important
If you are considering buying a house, you must have a home inspection done before signing the contract on the property. Many lenders will not give you a mortgage until the inspection is complete, and they may even require some things to be checked outside of the standard inspection.
Foundation Inspections
One of the critical things the home inspection includes is the basement and foundation of the home. The inspector will check the foundation walls for cracks, damage, or signs of water infiltration around the inside of the walls.
They will often check the house's sill where it meets the foundation for signs of rot, water damage, or insect infestation. Any damage to the foundation will go on the report, but minor damage that is easily fixed does not mean you shouldn't buy the house. It does mean you need to be aware of the required repairs.
Mechanical Systems
Next on the list is the heating system, the cooling system, the electrical system, and the plumbing throughout the house. During the home inspection, the inspector will check these systems to determine if they are working and what, if anything, needs repairing.
An electrical system that is old can be upgraded, and a furnace can be replaced, but a house in need of these repairs may have a significantly lower value, so the inspection is essential for the buyer.
Roof Inspection
The home inspector will check the home's roof, looking for signs of leaks, damage to the roofing material, and potential damage that indicates a new roof is needed. Replacing the roof can be very expensive, so if you want to buy the home, you may need to go back to the seller and ask for them to reduce the price.
The seller may opt to replace the roof at their cost to hold the selling price where it is, but the alternative could be a reduction in the cost of replacement so that you can use that money to make the repairs. Be sure to get an estimate on the cost of replacing the roof so that you know what the price reduction needs to be before agreeing to buy.
Interior Inspections
While inside the home, the inspector will look at the house's ceiling, walls, and floors. This part of the home inspection typically focuses on cosmetic features, but sometimes the inspector will find things that indicate a problem. Water stains on a ceiling, for instance, might be an indication that there is leaking overhead that needs further inspection.
Once the inspection is complete, the inspector will typically not tell you whether you should buy the home or not, but they can tell you want they found concerning and what looked good. You will have to decide if you move forward based on that information.
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