Top Home Inspection Tips for New Home Buyers

Published
10/23/2020

Getting to do a home inspection for a house you want to buy is almost the same as running a background check on someone you are about to initiate an intimate relationship with. There’s usually a mix of emotions that can sometimes be seen as pessimism and almost as if you’re trying hard to find something wrong with the property.

Whilst it’s natural for you to feel this way, it is a good decision to undertake a home inspection before you make payment for a prospective home. A home inspection doesn’t just get you through the process of buying the best home available; it also saves you from spending excessively after the purchase.

This inspection ensures the complete assessment of the condition of a home or property including its cooling and heating system, water and electrical system and other parts of the property to verify their suitability for the client.

Now that you understand what the process entails, having a good team handle the inspection of the next home you want to buy will be ideal. You can visit https://coloradohomeinspector.com/ to learn more about how to go about the process with professionals.

With experienced inspectors, you are sure to find out about all, if any, issues that should be fixed by the home seller before it is sold. If there are concessions from all these issues that need to be factored in the price, the team will also inform you.

 

Home Inspection Tips for New Home Buyers

To get through the inspection process as quickly as possible, here are top tips that will guide you. The following tips are important for every new home buyer that needs inspection services:

 

Scan through the Home on your First Visit

On your first visit with the inspector, make sure to scan through the home to identify areas in the home that may need attention. Some of these areas may include those with water stains around the house, cracks on the walls, doors and windows that won’t open or shut properly, corroded or leaky pipes and sockets that are not functional. You can notice all these in advance and subsequently point them out to your inspector.

 

Prepare your Mind to See Problems

Inspections involve a variety of revelations which may range from easy fixes to big issues. Even when an apartment looks so perfect, there could still be something lurking somewhere in need of attention. You need to prepare your mind to the fact that your inspector may find something that needs fixing. If they eventually do, get ready to calmly reach a compromise or explore the options available with all the parties involved in the transaction.

 

Ask Several Questions

We advise that you ask as many questions as may occur to you. Many buyers usually feel embarrassed of asking many questions for fear of being offensive. However, asking questions gets you informed and equipped with the necessary information you need to take the best decision.

Leaving any question you have for a later date is very dangerous as you may not get the chance or you may eventually forget. Asking questions when you are still with the inspector is an invaluable privilege you need to take seriously as it will make them explain in detail what may be confusing to you and how they can be resolved. There are a number of questions that you can ask to help with the decision making process, and you can find some here.

 

Do Not Get in the Way

We recommend that you ask questions and even come with a list. However, you also need to allow the inspector to perform their task. Just like in other professions, some quiet is required for the professional to come up with the best ideas on how to deliver successfully. Coming up with distractions which may be in the form of questions can lead to some consequences like omitting some scanning steps and this will definitely affect you as a buyer.

You should therefore ensure you ask your questions at the right times.

 

Give the team time

The team will require some time to do their job and this may range between two to three hours. With enough time, the inspector will have access to all nooks and crannies of the home and give you a good report that will shape your buying decision.

Give the process some time and ensure that you are there to monitor the process for your own assessment.

 

Use a Professional Inspector

You will definitely need to go for the best. If you are working with a good agent, they should give you a list of at least three independent inspectors that you can choose from.

When you get the list, make sure to conduct your own investigations like checking for reviews from other clients who have previously used them. Also check for their certification from relevant authorities. Ask for a sample report and discuss with them to know if they are comfortable with you being around during inspection.

In the event that they decline any of your requests, then you should consider it a red flag and use that as an opportunity to look for another professional who will accommodate your needs.

 

Take Pictures

Every good inspector takes pictures to use as proof for any issue detected. Pictures are an important element of communication as they convey more meaning than several words. In this respect, pictures serve as a reminder for both you and the inspector for issues that need to be resolved.

While still allowing the inspector to do his job, you can take pictures for your own assessment and reference when necessary.

 

Bring Binoculars

You may be needing binoculars for the roof. The reason for this is usually because the roof is physically difficult to access during an inspection. Coming with binoculars allows you to get a clearer view without having to climb up there. With this, you also get a firsthand view of anything that the inspector may point out.

A major consideration when going with binoculars is the zoom or magnification feature. You can find out the zoom of the binoculars by reading the initial number of the specification. For instance – 13x50 binoculars zooms up to 13 times.

 

Look out for Cosmetic Updates

Cosmetic updates are very common in properties that are up for sale. Knowing what exactly the cosmetic fixes are for is important as they could be a hiding place for something sinister.

New paintings can cover the cracks on the wall or in the ceiling. A current renovation is a pointer that there is a recent issue around the area concerned that the owner may be trying to cover up. While you shouldn’t conclude there is a mold problem or any other issue when you see a fresh painting, be sure to critically look around and ask questions wherever you observe some things that don’t look clear to you.

 

Inquire about the Major Appliances

You have to get the accurate status of all the major appliances in the house. This should include their life expectancy. Even when the seller has confirmed that each of the appliances is in good condition and working perfectly, you also need to know how long it has been in use. The knowledge of this will help you know how much longer they are likely to last.

Check also for systems like water heaters, washers, and furnaces as they are very expensive to fix if they get damaged after you have concluded your purchase.

The above are some of the very important tips to note.

 

Conclusion

The main reason for securing the service of a home inspection team is to provide you with the information you need to make a good decision before payment. With the tips we have share in this article, you can go ahead and search for that nice home to buy knowing that you know exactly how to go about an inspection process.

Remember that the success of the process depends highly on the quality of inspector your hire. Do yourself a favor and get a very qualified one.

Be sure to visit Carlisle Homes to find out more about your new home build.