This type of information is really valuable, especially if you’re a first time home buyer. Once you’ve visited a house and fell in love with it, you need to find out what’s wrong with it as well - that way you’ll know how much it’s actually worth and what bid you should be offering. Most people can easily find a trusted inspector online or by asking friends for recommendations, so you shouldn’t run into any problems with that.

What you should keep in mind is:

  • You need to be present when the inspector comes to do the job
  • Ask as many questions as you can so everything is clear as water and you learn everything about your probable new home
  • If you can’t be present during the inspection, set a time to meet the inspector and go through the report with him
“Home is where you hang your hat.” - Leon Redbone

Save Money

We all enjoy saving some bucks here and there.
We all enjoy saving some bucks here and there. Image source: Pixabay

Even though home inspections may be pricey, they will prevent you from buying a house that needed a much more expensive repair or makeover. So get started the right way and save money upfront with a thorough professional inspection.

Negotiate Your House Price

A home inspection will show you where you can bargain.
A home inspection will show you where you can bargain. Image source: Unsplash

So, here’s the thing about a home inspection: it’s the secret for your bargain. Once you know what projects the house will need, you can use that in your advantage to negotiate a lower price. You can use the damages as a reason why you need the lower price since you’ll need to have those repaired.

Or Negotiate a Seller’s Repair

Another option is to have the sellers themselves repair a couple of those damages found in the inspection. Negotiations can be tricky, but they can also make a deal really interesting. If the seller you’re dealing with won’t sign a contract clause to complete repairs, you can use that to make the house price go even lower.

Keep in mind:

While in Auburn, AL the average cost of a home inspection is $275, in San Diego, CA the price goes up to $390. Make sure to have a local professional give you a more accurate estimate.

Get Professional Advice on Home Maintenance

A professional knows what's best.
A professional knows what’s best. Image source: realtor.com

You can also benefit from a home inspection because you’ll be able to make lots of questions to a professional about the home you’re interested in, and questions about home maintenance. If you hired a qualified pro, you’ll end up with the best tips and advices on how to manage your future home.

To have a thorough examination, make sure it includes:

  • Electrical system
  • Plumbing system
  • HVAC system
  • Walls, ceilings, and flooring
  • Roofing, foundation, and insulation
  • Basement and attic

Additionally, more specific inspections will reveal problems such as:

  • Pests
  • Mold
  • Asbestos
  • Below ground damages
  • Wells and septic tank flaws

Safety Issues

Not getting a home inspection to reveal the damages and flaws in your house may jeopardize everyone’s safety and health. An electrical failure, for example, could lead to shocks that could seriously harm someone. Or hidden mold that could cause allergies and breathing problems. The scenarios are numerous, none of them worth skipping the inspection.

Structural Issues

You need to know everything about the house before closing a deal.
You need to know everything about the house before closing a deal. Image source: Pixabay

So, you’ve decided to give the house an inspection yourself. You sure can cover a few of the basic issues, but what about the structural part? If you’re not a professional, you better call one to perform that task and avoid spending thousands on repairs later on. While you’re at it, just leave it all to the pro, you’ll be paying them anyways, right?

Ready to get your home inspected? Get a free quote from a professional today!

More from homeyou:

Join the conversation