When people shop for a new home, they often get caught up romanticizing every house they look at, and it’s easy to do so. You’re walking through a place that could potentially be yours, and naturally, you start thinking about where you’d put your furniture and plants. However, before you invest yourself emotionally, you should find out what’s under the shiny surface. You might discover a thing or two you don’t like. This is not the kind of surprise you want. So, let’s look at the reasons you shouldn’t skip a home inspection.
This is a part of the process that should be important to all buyers. Although sellers usually aren’t trying to rip you off, they’ll do their best to sell you the house. So, there’s a chance that they won’t make important issues of the home obvious.
On the other hand, a home inspector will look at every nook and cranny of the house. On top of that, they’ll know what areas might be problematic. You’ll have to pay a small price for their services, but it will be more than worth it. Therefore, if you’re thinking about buying a property in Canada, this is something you shouldn’t skip, and here’s why.
You’ll Learn What You’re Getting Into
If you aren’t a contractor or home inspector yourself, chances are you won’t know how to spot serious issues in a house, and that’s perfectly fine. You don’t have the training or the experience needed to do this. So, the home inspection is here to make it clear what you’re getting into. You’ll learn what the potential repairs you need to know about are, how modern your electrical is, what shape your HVAC unit is in, and a lot more. In essence, it will make it easy for you to weigh all the pros and cons of the home.
Repairs and Renovations
When you’re preparing to buy a new home and move into it, there are many costs you need to consider. We all know what the priority is here. But you can’t forget about your relocation budget either. Now, you’ll probably have to do some work around the house before it’s ready. So, to maximize the budget for your upcoming move, you need to know how much the required repairs will cost you.
The home inspection will give you the information you need. Inspectors will be able to find any structural problems. If there are issues with structural support, a sagging roof, or a crack in the wall, you’ll know about it. Most importantly, they’ll tell you what things you should pay attention to in the future. You can use these as negotiation points later on.
Potential Safety Hazards
Safety is one of the most important things when buying a home. In it, you should feel safe, no matter how much you paid for it or how old it is. This is especially true when buying a house with kids. Uncovering potential hazards is one of the reasons you shouldn’t skip a home inspection. For instance, if you’re buying an older home, you might find out that your electrics aren’t grounded. This could lead to electrical fires, so it’s a problem. You may also have to deal with hidden mold, lead paint, asbestos, or even radon gas. And none of these is something you should ignore.
Soothe Your Lender
Your home inspection report will be crucial for your lender. Specific issues may cause them to inhibit you from buying the house. And in this case, the seller would have to fix these, or you’d have to walk away. It’s common for some lenders to be pickier than others. Because of this, you might get more significant restrictions and requirements for your loan. Here, the home inspection is a safety blanket. With it, you’ll avoid any nasty surprises later on.
However, no matter how difficult your home loan is to acquire, some red flags are the same for everyone. So, here are some things that are never okay to ignore:
- Pest infestation
- Peeling or lead paint
- Asbestos
- A cracked foundation
- A damaged roof
- Water damage
- Mold
It’ll Help you Save Money
As we already mentioned, there is a fee you need to pay for a home inspection. However, this fee can save you from spending thousands of dollars down the road for more serious repairs.
The inspector will have no problems estimating the lifespan of a roof or major appliances. So, if you have a leak or your HVAC unit is on its last legs, you’ll know that you need to do something about it.
This also creates some leverage for negotiations. Therefore, it’s a great addition to the ‘offer and beyond’ part of the process. Here, you have two paths you can follow. You can pursue the seller to fix these or ask them to lower the price of the home for the cost of repairs. There’s no need or sense in paying top dollar for a home that needs lots of work.
An Easy out for Second Thoughts
It’s not unusual for sellers to ask you to put down a few hundred dollars to show that you’re serious and that you won’t back out without reason. If you do that, they keep the money. And that’s a sensible transaction.
On the other hand, if the home inspection uncovers any significant issues, you have a great excuse to back out. Of course, with your initial investment returned. In our book, this is an option that’s always good to have.
Calmness
The last reason you shouldn’t skip a home inspection is something invaluable – peace of mind. You’ll be sure that the house you’re buying is safe and professionally checked. So, you won’t have to worry about any significant issues, and you and your family will be able to enjoy it to its full potential.
Author’s bio:
Serena Blackwell is a freelance writer and a real estate enthusiast. She loves writing about charming neighborhoods and the bargain houses you can find in them. When she’s not writing, she loves to spend time playing on the beach with her son Ross.