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What to Expect |
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If you're going to invest thousands of dollars to own your own home, doesn't it make sense to know as much about the house as you can? The sensible answer is yes and since your agent makes no claims as to being an expert in home conditions, an independent home inspection service is used to give you a general look at the overall condition of the home.
1) The basic purpose of an inspection is to find any major structural or mechanical problems to show a buyer how to take care of the house. Examples of major defects might be: unsafe electrical wiring, malfunctioning central air units, furnaces or heat pumps, plumbing or signs of roof or structural damage.
2) Since the buyer pays for the home inspection after an accepted contract has been negotiated the buyer should also choose the Inspection service.
3) The inspector's cost varies with location as well as the size and type of house. The national average is $350.
4) The inspection is usually 2 1/2 - 3 hours long.
5) Inspectors normally don't test for environmental hazards such as radon gas, lead and asbestos, but would be willing to refer technicians who can do such tests.
6) Prospective buyers should accompany inspectors during the inspection to obtain important information about the house and become familiar with matters that are expected to be part of the report.
7) A buyer can help the inspector by asking the seller to provide pertinent information about the house, such as fuel bills and the age of the componets of the house.
8) Building inspections are not substitutes for professional termite inspections, but inspectors may be able to point out existing damage.
9) Inspectors should be impartial, noting the good as well as the bad. No house is maintenance free.
10) Inspections should not be viewed as an implied warranty. Inspections only state the condition at the time of inspection. In other words, there is no guarantee that the home's components won't need repair In the future. |
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