5 common home inspection mistakes new homeowners make
It takes a lot of effort, time and money for any homeowner to finally get the home they have always dreamed of. Identifying and buying a new home, or an old stylish one to settle in, is not as simple as just making the purchase. New and old homes alike are known to have internal and external defects that could cost the new homeowner a fortune in home improvement costs once they move in.
This is where a home inspection comes in handy. A home inspection is generally an exercise that involves looking for possible defects in a house, to inform the buyer so they can decide if they want to purchase the home or not. Unfortunately, homeowners continue to make costly mistakes during a home inspection. If you’re searching for new home properties in Fremont, take a look at the listings page.
We have discussed five of these in the subsequent paragraphs.
Failing To Hire A Home Inspector
A home inspector refers to the professional whose sole mandate is to conduct a home inspection and draft a final report. Potential homeowners tend to fall into the fallacy that newly built properties don’t contain defects and as such, may choose not to hire a home inspector. While one can learn a lot about a house by merely looking at it, making a personal inspection (doing it themselves) can be costly to the homeowner.
A personal inspection may miss certain hard to reach areas such as the roof, basement or attic. They may also fail to identify certain signs of damage, such as cracks or leaks. This is why a professional home inspector always comes in handy when doing your home evaluation.
Hiring An Unqualified Home Inspector
Most homeowners neglect to do their homework when finding the right home inspector for a home evaluation. While your realtor will most likely have a list of home inspectors they could recommend, it is always important to hire someone you trust, as you are the one who will be buying the house.
A good home inspector should be able to produce multiple recommendations, have a construction background and training, be licensed, certified, and show proof of past jobs done. Hiring an unqualified home inspector is always expensive, as they are bound to cut corners and pass by costly defects in the house.
Failing To Attend The Inspection
After hiring a qualified home inspector, most homeowners tend to abandon the inspection and wait for the final report. While some attribute this to a busy schedule at work or family issues, they do not realize the gravity of their mistake. Leaving a home inspector to conduct the inspection alone is counterproductive.
This is because they might fail to inspect certain areas of the property, such as the roof or attic (in the case of bad weather) or if they deem it too dangerous to check. Being present during the home evaluation affords you the chance to point out certain defects you would like them to prod further, to observe the action and to ask fundamental questions.
Failing To Pay attention To The Roof And Attic
What the majority of homeowners never seem to realize is that the roof and attic play a very big role in keeping the interior of the house in good shape. The roof is also one of the most labor-intensive and expensive elements to replace in the case of a defect. This is the reason why no homeowner can afford to make mistakes when it comes to these.
Always ask your home inspector to look out for signs of improper installation or aging of roofing materials. One should be keen to check for any signs of water intrusion in chimneys, skylights, and vents. Inspectors should also do a thorough inspection of the attic to make sure it is well-functioning and free from moisture, mold, and rot.
Not Taking The Final Report Seriously
A home inspection report can tell a homeowner whether the house they are planning to buy is a good investment or just a potential money pit. Sometimes homeowners see the report as a mere formality and do not take the time to take action on the recommendations contained therein.
No matter how much you like the property, if your inspector finds severe defects that the seller is unwilling to rectify before the deal can be closed. then it is always wise to continue the search. It may save you a lot of money down the road.
Conclusion
While the above may be some of the most frequent and severe mistakes made by a homeowner during a home inspection, they are just the tip of the iceberg. Homeowners continue to make bad property investments every day, due to things they neglected or thought weren’t important during a home inspection.
If you hire a qualified home inspector to carry out the work, be firmly involved in the inspection process and act on the final report. The chances are high that you will then be able to make a sound property investment decision.