5 Reasons to Get a Home Inspection Prior to Buying

HOBE SOUND, Fla. - July 25, 2014 - PRLog -- Ask any of your family and friends to weigh in on whether or not you should get a pre-purchase home inspection and you’re likely to collect a number of horror stories involved in the process. Some may have gone ahead and paid for a home inspection prior to purchase only to feel like it was a waste of time and money. Others may have decided to purchase the home without an inspection only to discover that they should never have purchased the home in the first place because it had a serious and costly defect.

This debate has leaked onto the internet in forums and real estate blogs. Fence-sitters say it depends on the buyer, the property, and how trust-worthy the seller is. Their position is that if it’s a newer home, if you feel okay without the inspection, and if you’ve got a decent rapport with the seller, then don’t fret about it.

The anti-home inspection camp argues about price and value. The prospective buyer would have to shell out hundreds of dollars for “only” a visual inspection of the easily accessed areas of the property. This side of the debate feels that the inspection fee is too much and the quality of the inspection is questionable at best.

On the other side of the divide are people that advocate always getting an inspection prior to purchase. They argue that it protects the buyer from purchasing a home with serious defects and that the fee involved is really insignificant when compared to the total selling price of the home and any added costs for repair.

With all these different opinions, how do you really determine whether or not you should go for the inspection? Consider the following.

·         You have the power to secure the services of a reputable inspector. There are scams out there in the home inspection arena; however, you have resources at your fingertips that can help you sort the good from the bad. You can use referrals from friends and family, go to the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI), and go to the Better Business Bureau (BBB) to do research on possible inspectors. A little preliminary work on your part will give you plenty of bang for your buck.

·         Remember what you are paying for. There is a substantial fee involved in a home inspection. However, you’ll have secured the services of a highly trained and well-respected inspector. This inspector is going to spend a number of hours thoroughly checking out the property. It will not be a cursory walk through where the inspector simply glances around and doesn’t seem to be doing much. He (or she) is bringing his (or her) expertise and knowledge to the table and spending valuable time to provide you with a thorough report. Time and training is valuable. We pay the same for other specialized services, such as for attorneys and doctors.

·         You will gain negotiating power from an inspection. Providing the inspection doesn’t highlight a deal-buster defect, you can negotiate the seller down or get them to cover the repairs and costs prior to purchase.

·         An inspection will save you from making a huge mistake. Sure, you’ve fallen in love with the house and as far as you’re concerned it is perfect. However, this house is a major investment and you owe it to yourself to do your due diligence in making sure the investment is worth the cost. Sometimes a pre-purchase inspection uncovers major electrical, health, or structural defects that are cost prohibitive to repair. Knowing about this issue prior to purchase will save you hundreds of thousands of dollars.

·         The home inspection gives you a maintenance roadmap after purchase. Every inspection will highlight issues, even in new homes. Provided none of the issues are a deal-breaker, then your inspector can help you prioritize the other repairs and help you come up with a timeline in which each item should be addressed. This alone is well-worth the inspection.

When you consider these five points, there really is no debate. A responsible buyer will always get a pre-purchase home inspection when they find a house they want. If you are in southern Florida and want more information about how a pre-purchase home inspection can benefit you, contact the South Florida Home Inspection Association or visit http://www.sfloridahomeinspection.com/services/pre-purcha... (http://www.sfloridahomeinspection.com/services/pre-purcha...)