In my previous articles I have discussed the steps of getting pre qualified with a lender and submitting an offer on a home. What do you do once you have your offer accepted? With most real estate transactions once you have your offer accepted you will have a 10 day inspection period. I always recommend clients hire a professional home inspector to do a thorough inspection of the home. A standard home inspection is going to consists of inspecting the plumbing, electrical, roof, foundation, heating and air, and provide a detailed report.
The investment of paying for a home inspection is worth every penny. With a home inspection in hand I have been able to negotiate thousands of dollars off the purchase price for my clients. That’s not to say this will happen every time. But with a detailed written report it makes for a much stronger case when negotiating with a seller.
Inspections are also very important because while a home may visually look great, you just never know. There have been times when my clients have decided to cancel a transaction because the home inspection found too many problems. That small investment for a home inspection literally saved them thousands of dollars and many headaches.
The best place to find a reliable home inspector is a personal referral from your Realtor or friend. I would recommend working with an inspector that has many years experience and don’t be afraid to ask for references either. The quality of the home inspector is the key to success.
I would also recommend getting the home inspection done very early during your 10 day inspection period. I always try to schedule the inspection for my clients within the first couple of days. This is important so my client can have time to review the report and not make a rushed decision. Also with the extra time it will allow specialists like roofers, contractors, electricians, and structural engineers to inspect the property if necessary and provide estimates. Ultimately the inspection period is a great opportunity to make sure you are making the best decision and making a sound investment. Thanks for your time in reading and happy house hunting!
My approach to real estate is like my approach to life. Treat other people the way you would like to be treated and everyone wins. I take this motto seriously and apply it everyday in my business. I’m not perfect but I am straightforward, caring, and honest. I have been practicing real estate since 2005 and have loved every minute of it. I am an active member of the National Association of Realtors and Phoenix Association of Realtors. My career as a Realtor is to listen to each clients needs and provide the best advise, guidance, and solutions. I consider myself a consultant, coach, and therapist all rolled into one. Some transactions are harder than others but with my knowledge and expertise I will be there every step of the way. Clients always come first and my promise is to guide them through the real estate process as smoothly as possible. I know without my clients I am nothing and that is what drives me to exceed their expectations.
http://www.ziprealty.com/agent/joedwards
I agree home inspections are important and should be done early.
I agree with you that a home inspection is a very important part of the purchase. I have purchased 2 homes in my adult life (lived in one for 17 years!) and the inspection was a no-brainer. I highly suggest this aspect of home purchasing.
Very important to get this done early… you don’t want any surprises later on…
Home inspections are important if you want to know what you are getting into…. If you don’t care that you may need to spend tens of thousands of dollars to get your home in living condition, then skip the home inspection, and I’ll refer you to a great contractor.
definitely a well needed service!
I agree that buyesr should definitely get a good home inspector. From a seller’s standpoint, which I am currently (in fact a buyer currently as well), some home inspectors have no idea what they are doing. They have basic knowledge about the structure and mechanics of your home, but yet they can cause an entire transaction to go south. One inspector recently failed my A/C system and when we brough in a certified pro he discovered that the filters needed changing and the fluctuation in weather conditions. The same inspector said my sprinkler system wasn’t working at all, when it comes on everyday as scheduled. Turns out that one head was broken in one zone. He also reported structural problems because of some minor surface cracks in my tile floors. A structural engineer disagreed. Buyers, do your homework beforing hiring Joe Schmoo down the street.
Everyone needs to have a home inspection, there are things we do not know as a customer. Have the experts check it out
Great tip to get your home inspection done early.
Yes, Yes YES……..Leave nothing to chance.
Thanks for sharing Joel. I will do share this advice. It is not that bad to invest money for certified professionals to handle critical issues that most customers do not know. So leave that house to inspectors, you’ll save lots of dollars.
I like the idea of a home inspection, however, I would also caution a realtor and a buyer to take the inspection report with a grain of salt. The inspector has no skin in the game, and can give a rat’s patooty if he kills a sale. I would look carefully at the credentials of a home inspector and I wouldn’t dream of hiring an inspector who was not a builder in their former life. Ex-anything-else’s don’t cut it with me. I want someone who knows how to build it and has personally built it telling me the homeowner needs to spend $20,000 fixing everything on my list, not some person who took a class on inspecting and now racks up bills for people or kills sales. Just my two cents. Great article. Veronica is dead on!
Absolutely!!! It will save you a lot in the long run!
Yvonne Brown
My parents taught me to always have a home you are interested in buying professionally inspected by someone you find and check out on your own.!!!!
Without an inspections, be ready for the unforgiving to happen!!
Yes! Home inspections are very important to do!