Is Hiring a Home Inspector Really That Important?

When in the market for a new house, there are many steps to take to close the sale and own the property. Most people want to get away with paying the least amount of money possible due to the hefty fees involved with closing costs or hiring a real estate agent.

Although there are different ways to cut corners, you will not reap any rewards by avoiding the help from a professional home inspector. Some people think they can judge the quality of the property themselves, however, even if you are particularly handy or think you know a lot about houses, the opinion of a professional is priceless.

If you still think you can go without the help of a home inspector, read on to find out how you would benefit from an extra pair of eyes looking over the home before you buy.

An Unbiased Opinion

It can be easy to become too emotionally attached to a home that you’re looking to buy, but a home inspector will provide an honest opinion with the details of the evaluation. Hiring a different set of eyes will offer a realistic view on if it’s a wise purchase based on any issues that are discovered. Hire your own home inspector that works for you instead of depending on one that works for the selling party, as they can easily blur the details with the facts.

Find Overlooked Problems

Home inspectors are skilled at finding problems with the property that may be overlooked by most people. Between code violations to a cracked foundation, there are several factors that can affect the quality of the home and what it’s really worth. There are many signs of damage and infestation in the home that are not easily detected just by looking on the surface. By enlisting the help of a professional, you will make sure that any hidden problems are uncovered before you buy the home.

Adjust Your Offer

Instead of paying more than you need to for a house that needs repairs, spending $200 to $500 on an inspector will prove to pay off when you realize that you can make a lower offer based on the inspection. If the evaluation comes back clean, you can still make the prior offer with confidence. As mentioned, the inspector isn’t biased in favor of the buyer or the seller, so he or she will give you a straightforward report of the condition of the home and will be honest about whether or not you are getting a fair price.

Protect Your Health

Hiring a home inspector can protect your health later down the road, especially if mold is found in the residence. Mold can be difficult to find without a thorough inspection, making it an investment that is worth the well-being of each resident to prevent asthma and respiratory problems. The seller might not even know that they have mold, so hiring a professional to give you a true assessment of how dangerous the home is will give you peace of mind about the health and safety of your family.

Prevent Disasters

Skipping a home inspector could mean that you have no one to warn you about potential disasters. This could mean having a fire break out in your new home due to faulty wiring that was overlooked, or your roof might cave in after a heavy snow during the first winter you live there. Not only can home inspectors detect issues that are presently affecting the house, they also have the skills to determine what types of things will cause problems to come up later down the road. An inspector can give you an idea of how solid the roof and foundation are, or if you can expect to have problems in any area of the home after you’ve lived there for a year or two. You’ll prevent your risk of disasters from occurring within the home with a professional who is there to look at every corner of the property.

Instead of cutting corners when purchasing a home, use the knowledge and advice of a home inspector to ensure you are making a wise choice. A home inspector can save you thousands of dollars on repairs in the future, and will allow you to have all the information about investing in a particular property.