Is your dream home a sweet dream or a potential nightmare?
So, you found your dream home. Do you know what you are really buying? Many cases of disappointment and financial ruin could have been avoided with a simple, but comprehensive pre-offer home inspection. A licensed home inspector can evaluate all the systems of a home from top to bottom.
What is a Licensed Home Inspector?
A home inspector is a licensed professional who is hired to be in your corner to help you make one of the biggest financial decisions of your life. That doesn’t mean he or she will tell you whether or not to make the purchase. Your licensed home inspector will present all the major and minor deficiencies of the home and also point out any safety concerns. After going through the home, a detailed, computerized check list is presented to the prospective home buyer on-site and the home inspector will discuss any concerns he or she may have regarding the home. Any questions the prospective home buyer may have can be answered before the home inspector leaves the site.
Pre-sale home inspection is important too.
If you are thinking of selling your home, a pre-sale home inspection can save you money, help you avoid surprises, and maybe help you get a higher offer on your home. During a pre-sale home inspection, a licensed home inspector will also go through your home with you. He or she will point out any deficiencies of your home so you can make repairs and upgrades at your leisure prior to prospective buyers going through the home. This will help you get top dollar for your home when it comes time to put it on the market. Even if the licensed home inspector finds nothing in your home that should be addressed, you can tell potential buyers the home was inspected and provide them a copy of the report.
At the very least, a home inspection gives you peace of mind whether you are buying or selling a home.
Home inspections aren’t just for buying and selling property.
A home inspection is not limited to real estate transactions. Like taking your car in for a tune up after so many miles, a home should be inspected periodically, especially if do-it-yourself improvements or upgrades have been done. For example, water intrusion in a roof structure can go undetected for years and can do serious damage. The repairs can be thousands of dollars by the time the problem is noticed.
Some licensed home inspectors are certified for other types of home inspection such as home energy efficiency. Some also have specialized equipment for detecting water, mold, air quality, radon, and potentially serious hazards in your home you may not even be aware of. On request, most home inspectors will evaluate ventilation and indoor air quality including mold and radon, along with environmental hazards such as asbestos and lead.
Peace-of-mind for minimal extra cost.
A home inspection costs $300 – $400, which is inexpensive relative to walking into a real estate deal without knowledge of the property conditions. Extra services and testing provided by your licensed home inspector when provided in conjunction with a regular home inspection usually come with a small extra fee and are usually not part of the standard home inspection. Avoid the aggravation and possible financial loss. Be sure to hire a licensed home inspection professional who is there to represent your best interests–whether you are buying or selling a home or if you need to make sure your existing home is free of potentially expensive repairs and safe for you and your family.
Bob Beisbier, owner of BK Home Inspection, is a Certified Master Home Inspector who has been providing professional and thorough home inspections in southeast Wisconsin for over 12 years. Bob is Infrared certified, DILHR Certified, and provides Home Energy Tune-ups, Environmental Data Reports, Pre-sale Home Inspections and Pre-offer Home Inspections.
