You’ve been searching a long time for the home of your dreams, and now, there it is right in front of you. Your furniture and personal items have already been moved into the space -- in your mind’s eye -- and you can’t wait to sign on the dotted line and make the place yours.
However, before you are swept up feeling that you have found the house that was meant to be yours and yours alone, remember this old British saying: “You can’t tell a book by its cover.” The house may be beautiful, look wonderfully inviting, and exude charm. But all of that charm may be covering an outdated electrical box, or one with major faults, or a water heater that’s about to give its last gasp, or other problems that may not be as major, but that will still tarnish some of the shine you see when you gaze at your potential new home.
What’s the next step, then? Be sure to have a whole house inspection, and write it into the purchase contract as a stipulation for closing the deal. The benefits are numerous and far outweigh the cost that is usually between $250 and $500. The biggest benefit to you, as the buyer, is that you’ll feel you really know what you bought, and you won’t have any nasty, or expensive, surprises. You wouldn’t buy an outfit without first trying it on to make sure it fits. Nor would you buy an expensive car without driving it first to make sure it’s comfortable and that it has all of the features you require in a vehicle. So why, then, would you buy a house – the biggest investment many people will ever make in their lives – without having an inspection?
A whole house inspection gives you:
Information
Leverage
Peace of mind
INFORMATION
A qualified inspector can be found at www.ashi.org. The American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI) was founded in 1976. According to ASHI’s website, “This is North America’s oldest and most respected professional society of home inspectors. ASHI’s goals have always been to build customer awareness of the importance of a quality home inspection and enhance the professionalism of home inspectors.”
Out of curiosity, I listed my zip code for a list of home inspectors that are ASHI members, and in a radius of 100 miles of my home, 24 names popped up. Your agent can also provide a list of inspectors, but make sure you get several names so that you can make your own decision on who to hire. If you choose a name from the ASHI website, you’ll have a certified inspector.
The information gleaned from a whole house inspection can be invaluable. You’ll learn so much about the house, and you’ll have a much better idea, once the inspector has finished, of the workings of your new home.
LEVERAGE
If you’ve put a stipulation in the purchase contract for a whole house inspection, you’ll have a way to void the contract if something is found that is a huge flaw. For instance, if your inspector finds a major defect and you no longer want to purchase the property, you’ll be able to terminate the contract and get your earnest money back. If there are problems that you feel you can live with once they’re corrected, you’ll have the ability to go back to the seller and request that those problems be solved at the seller’s expense.
PEACE OF MIND
Having a whole house inspection gives you the chance to do more than just ‘kick the tires’ of your new home. It makes you aware of the status of the big stuff (electrical system, furnace, water heater, plumbing), and provides peace of mind knowing there aren’t any potential problems that will arise and catch you unawares after you’ve purchased the property.
No house is perfect. Even brand-new homes have their flaws, but most flaws are correctible. An inspection provides you with a list of those flaws, thereby arming you with the knowledge to make an informed decision about one of the biggest investments you’ll ever make. Having a whole house inspection is something that every buyer should have. With a whole house inspection, you’ll be able to buy yourself peace of mind, and you can't put a price on that!
However, before you are swept up feeling that you have found the house that was meant to be yours and yours alone, remember this old British saying: “You can’t tell a book by its cover.” The house may be beautiful, look wonderfully inviting, and exude charm. But all of that charm may be covering an outdated electrical box, or one with major faults, or a water heater that’s about to give its last gasp, or other problems that may not be as major, but that will still tarnish some of the shine you see when you gaze at your potential new home.
What’s the next step, then? Be sure to have a whole house inspection, and write it into the purchase contract as a stipulation for closing the deal. The benefits are numerous and far outweigh the cost that is usually between $250 and $500. The biggest benefit to you, as the buyer, is that you’ll feel you really know what you bought, and you won’t have any nasty, or expensive, surprises. You wouldn’t buy an outfit without first trying it on to make sure it fits. Nor would you buy an expensive car without driving it first to make sure it’s comfortable and that it has all of the features you require in a vehicle. So why, then, would you buy a house – the biggest investment many people will ever make in their lives – without having an inspection?
A whole house inspection gives you:
Information
Leverage
Peace of mind
INFORMATION
A qualified inspector can be found at www.ashi.org. The American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI) was founded in 1976. According to ASHI’s website, “This is North America’s oldest and most respected professional society of home inspectors. ASHI’s goals have always been to build customer awareness of the importance of a quality home inspection and enhance the professionalism of home inspectors.”
Out of curiosity, I listed my zip code for a list of home inspectors that are ASHI members, and in a radius of 100 miles of my home, 24 names popped up. Your agent can also provide a list of inspectors, but make sure you get several names so that you can make your own decision on who to hire. If you choose a name from the ASHI website, you’ll have a certified inspector.
The information gleaned from a whole house inspection can be invaluable. You’ll learn so much about the house, and you’ll have a much better idea, once the inspector has finished, of the workings of your new home.
LEVERAGE
If you’ve put a stipulation in the purchase contract for a whole house inspection, you’ll have a way to void the contract if something is found that is a huge flaw. For instance, if your inspector finds a major defect and you no longer want to purchase the property, you’ll be able to terminate the contract and get your earnest money back. If there are problems that you feel you can live with once they’re corrected, you’ll have the ability to go back to the seller and request that those problems be solved at the seller’s expense.
PEACE OF MIND
Having a whole house inspection gives you the chance to do more than just ‘kick the tires’ of your new home. It makes you aware of the status of the big stuff (electrical system, furnace, water heater, plumbing), and provides peace of mind knowing there aren’t any potential problems that will arise and catch you unawares after you’ve purchased the property.
No house is perfect. Even brand-new homes have their flaws, but most flaws are correctible. An inspection provides you with a list of those flaws, thereby arming you with the knowledge to make an informed decision about one of the biggest investments you’ll ever make. Having a whole house inspection is something that every buyer should have. With a whole house inspection, you’ll be able to buy yourself peace of mind, and you can't put a price on that!
