The Truth About Home Inspections And Are They Really Necessary?
We all know that purchasing a new home is a costly venture that usually entails all sorts of unexpected or underestimated expenses. One of those expenses, that you may be asking yourself whether or not is worth the additional cost, is the home inspection.
Before buying a new home, you will be advised to have it inspected, by a professional, from top to bottom. Now, a home inspection is not a requirement for the signing and purchasing a home, but it is something that we strongly advise you to consider. Even though it might cost you an additional $200 to $400, the unexpected issues that a home inspection can reveal is invaluable when it comes to throwing down your hard-earned savings on a new home.
Let’s take a closer look at what a home inspection can really reveal and why you shouldn’t view this as simply unnecessary:
What is a Home Inspection?
During a home inspection, a professional contractor will come out to the home for a complete, top-to-bottom walk-through. They will evaluate the structural condition of the house, looking at everything from the plumbing, electrical, heating and air conditioning systems to the roof, insulation, window and doors, as well as a number of other things that you, as a homebuyer, might never even think of. Once finished, they will provide you with a full report of their findings, including any issues or suspicions that need to be further looked into by experts specific to each area of the home (such as a structural engineer if there’s evidence of termites, a plumber if there are signs of water damage, etc.). Never assume or take anything at face-value, even if you’re buying an entirely new home. It’s always better to be safe than sorry.
Do I Really Need a Home Inspection?
In short – yes. We absolutely recommend that you have an inspection done before you sign the purchasing papers to any home. It is well-worth the added expense! Just imagine if you were to buy a house, move all of your belongings and family in, thinking that you’ve finally found your new home, when out of nowhere, you find that the heating and air conditioning systems are dated and in disrepair, or that your chimney is collapsing into the roof, and you will need to make immediate repairs. You wouldn’t be too happy, would you? That is why home inspections are necessary, because even if they don’t find anything substantial, and everything is move-in-ready, it is worth the peace-of-mind simply to know that your new home will be stress-free and repair-free.
What if Problems are Found?
This is the great thing about having a home inspection done. Most standard contracts will include clauses that give potential homebuyers the right to back out of a contract should the home inspection uncover more issues than you’re willing to deal with. So, if a few problems are revealed that you’re willing to fix, yourself, or that you would like to write into contract negotiations for your current homebuyer to try to fix (but remember, they aren’t required to fix anything), you can do that. But, if so many problems are found that you’re no longer even interested in buying the home, having those home inspection papers are your life-line out of a bad deal. Either way, it is always, always important to read your contract very carefully.
When it comes down to it, a home inspection will cost you a little extra money, but you will be thankful for it in the long run. It will give you peace of mind, as well as that extra feeling of security in your new home. So, don’t skip this most necessary step in home buying. Trust us – you won’t be sorry!
Do you have your sights set on a particular home in Chicago or the surrounding suburbs? If so, don’t wait! Contact me to schedule your private showing today.
