Home Inspection Basics As A First Time Homebuyer
All homebuyers are prone to overlook major problems during the buying process only to be surprised by them once they have already paid for the property. You can consider hiring a professional home inspector even before signing any contract to avoid any regrets and stress after buying a property.
However, you aren't required to conduct an official home inspection until after signing the initial contract, so it's a good idea to learn as much as possible about the condition of the home by having an honest discussion with the seller, and even performing your own 'mini' inspection where you can check for basic structural defects or potential problems.
Most sellers will be open to having you inspect the home well before signing any type of contract, and this gives you some leverage when you are negotiating the final price. Barron's 'Smart Consumer's Guide to Home Buying' encourages all prospective homebuyers to prepare a checklist and note any problems and areas of concern as early as possible. The authors of the book explain that, "If you are thinking about buying a house that will need renovation or upgrading, the more value will be derived from your mini-inspection."
Create a checklist that you will use in your home inspection. This will help you in taking notes of the general condition and appearance of the house. Below are important issues to include in your notes:
The age of the house - You should know exactly when the house was built. Find out if there are any renovations or upgrades done and when these took place. Ask if blueprints, architect or engineer plans are available.
Check the foundation for potential problems - are there any large cracks or noticeable water problems around the home or in the basement? Ask about flooding issues and weather-related problems that have taken their toll on the home in different seasons.
Examine the interior of the house - Keep an eye for any defects and other potential sources of problems in the interior of the house. Specifically, you need to check if all walls are even with no cracks and if all doors are easily opened and closed. Take a picture of any visible crack, if possible. Check if there are any molds, foul odors and if all water drainages and faucets are working properly.
Examine the exterior of the house - Again, look for any obvious defects and potential problems. First, check if all doors and windows open and close easily. You might also want to check if they are properly insulated. Take note of the sidings and see noticeable signs of wear and tear.
Inspect the house's heating and air conditioning systems - You want to know the average electricity cost per month when operating these appliances. Ask about the age of these appliances as well. Old heating and air conditioning systems are usually inefficient and you may need to replace them.
In addition to the written inspection report, you may consider taking pictures or short video clips using a digital camera/camcorder so you can review everything again in more detail at a later date. This extra footage or coverage may also give you an upper hand during the negotiation process with the seller. - 23210
However, you aren't required to conduct an official home inspection until after signing the initial contract, so it's a good idea to learn as much as possible about the condition of the home by having an honest discussion with the seller, and even performing your own 'mini' inspection where you can check for basic structural defects or potential problems.
Most sellers will be open to having you inspect the home well before signing any type of contract, and this gives you some leverage when you are negotiating the final price. Barron's 'Smart Consumer's Guide to Home Buying' encourages all prospective homebuyers to prepare a checklist and note any problems and areas of concern as early as possible. The authors of the book explain that, "If you are thinking about buying a house that will need renovation or upgrading, the more value will be derived from your mini-inspection."
Create a checklist that you will use in your home inspection. This will help you in taking notes of the general condition and appearance of the house. Below are important issues to include in your notes:
The age of the house - You should know exactly when the house was built. Find out if there are any renovations or upgrades done and when these took place. Ask if blueprints, architect or engineer plans are available.
Check the foundation for potential problems - are there any large cracks or noticeable water problems around the home or in the basement? Ask about flooding issues and weather-related problems that have taken their toll on the home in different seasons.
Examine the interior of the house - Keep an eye for any defects and other potential sources of problems in the interior of the house. Specifically, you need to check if all walls are even with no cracks and if all doors are easily opened and closed. Take a picture of any visible crack, if possible. Check if there are any molds, foul odors and if all water drainages and faucets are working properly.
Examine the exterior of the house - Again, look for any obvious defects and potential problems. First, check if all doors and windows open and close easily. You might also want to check if they are properly insulated. Take note of the sidings and see noticeable signs of wear and tear.
Inspect the house's heating and air conditioning systems - You want to know the average electricity cost per month when operating these appliances. Ask about the age of these appliances as well. Old heating and air conditioning systems are usually inefficient and you may need to replace them.
In addition to the written inspection report, you may consider taking pictures or short video clips using a digital camera/camcorder so you can review everything again in more detail at a later date. This extra footage or coverage may also give you an upper hand during the negotiation process with the seller. - 23210
About the Author:
Author and Realtor Alexandria P. Anderson helps clients to find and purchase Plymouth MN Real Estate as well as Property for Sale in Plymouth, Minnesota.
posted by X - Men @ 1:32 AM
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