Home Inspections: Questions You Should Ask From Start To Finish

Sometimes home buyers and sellers will both enlist the services of a home inspector, though it is more for the buyer’s benefit. The buyers want to make sure they’re getting a fair deal and if there are major concerns before any money changes hands. Here are some home-buying tips when it comes to having your home or potential home inspected.

1. Why a home inspection is necessary

It is important to have an outsider examine the property to make sure that it’s in adequate condition. The buyers and sellers need to be aware of the state of the property. There could be issues that the sellers never knew about. The buyer is coming in cold and needs to know where they stand. Some minor problems can be fixed ahead of the sale while others can wait until after.

2. What the inspectors will check

Major issues like making sure the foundation doesn’t have any cracks is a big one. Termites can be a deciding factor depending on the degree of infestation. The plumbing is also another potentially serious issue. Other things like the age of the HVAC system and how the air conditioner works are not as serious and can be dealt with rather easily in theory. How the yard looks and if there are any trees that are wreaking havoc on sidewalks or plumbing can be a simple fix to moderate in severity.

3. Who pays and how much

Your location determines the cost to some extent. The inspector will also take into consideration the size of the home, how old it is, the neighborhood, and the housing market. The buyers are usually responsible for paying for the inspector and should be prepared to pay after completion.

An exact price is difficult to nail down because of the ambiguous nature of the inspection. It is realistic to think about paying a maximum of $600. Get a few estimates around town. There is one school of thought that says find the lowest and choose the next expensive. Ask friends or your Realtor for referrals. Talk to the inspectors who give you estimates and see who sounds right to you.

4. How an inspection will affect the sale

Buying a home in Dallas is like most places for the most part. You start talking to Realtors and find a home you love. You have it inspected and it comes out with a clean bill of health. The process moves along smoothly. On the other hand, you can have the inspection and there are problems. You will need to decide if they are worth fixing. You need to decide if you want to put more money into the purchase than you had planned on. Or maybe you decide you’ll have to do without this home and start looking again.

Be prepared for there to be some discrepancy between the price that the sellers get from their home inspector if they get one and the price the buyers get from theirs. Both parties might need to get a second opinion. Your realtor will be able to help to navigate the search for a middle ground. The goal is for everyone to come out happy in the end.