Home Inspection Colorado Springs is critical for anyone buying or selling real estate. But what exactly does an inspector do, and what should you do to prepare? Before the inspection, make sure to clean up and remove clutter. This will help the inspector understand the current condition of the house.
A home inspection examines a house’s physical structure and systems, from the roof to the foundation. It is usually conducted by a licensed home inspector who has completed training and meets professional standards. A buyer can use a home inspection to evaluate the condition of a potential purchase or by a seller to make preemptive repairs. It is typically performed before the closing of escrow and can occur simultaneously with a home appraisal.
Home inspections are commonly used in the United States and Canada for residential properties, though they may also be conducted on commercial property or on rental houses. They are also frequently used on recently foreclosed properties in order to determine whether the homes are fit for habitation, as required by some mortgage lenders.
An extensive home inspection will examine a range of components, including the roof and attic; interior plumbing and electrical systems; the walls, floors, ceilings, and windows; the heating and cooling system; and the visible insulation. Some ancillary services, such as wood destroying insect inspections, radon testing, and water quality or private well inspections may be included in the home inspection if a qualified inspector offers them.
When hiring a home inspector, it is important to find out how much experience they have and what their qualifications are. Ask your real estate agent for recommendations, or ask friends and family who have recently gone through the home buying process. In addition to their licensing and education, it is also helpful to know what associations they belong to, as these groups often have strict ethical guidelines that should be followed.
A home inspector should be able to explain the results of their evaluation in detail and provide a written report within 24 hours. Depending on the results of the inspection, a buyer can request a price reduction or credit from the seller, or they can ask the owner to hire professionals to make repairs before the sale is finalized.
It is generally advisable for buyers to attend the home inspection, so that they can learn as much as possible about the property from the inspector in real time. This will also allow them to ask questions and gain a better understanding of the inspector’s findings.
It’s a Safety Measure
Home inspections identify problems that could cost you a fortune down the road. They also point out renovation necessities and upkeep tasks. They can help prevent the purchase of a money pit, and they give you valuable information to use in your negotiations with the seller.
During a home inspection, the inspector is required to examine the following systems and components of the property:
HVAC: This includes the furnace and air conditioning units, as well as the ventilation system and ductwork. In addition, the inspector must inspect and evaluate the condition of the roof (including any signs of damage), walls, ceilings, floors, carpeting and other finish materials.
Plumbing: This means checking for working toilets, bathtubs, showers and sinks; examining the condition of the drainpipes, shut-off valves, water heater and sump pump; evaluating whether the water pressure is adequate; observing operating and visible electrical equipment and fixtures; checking for smoke detectors and carbon monoxide alarms; assessing whether there are any signs of leaks, damage, or insect infestation.
Electrical: In order to be a competent home inspector, it is recommended that he or she be armed with a variety of high quality testers. These should include a GFCI and arc-fault circuit interrupter tester. In addition, the inspector must have a flashlight that is bright enough to illuminate areas of the property that are not easily accessible.
Ancillary: Home inspectors are sometimes asked to perform ancillary inspections in order to provide the customer with a full report on the property. These may include septic tank inspections, wood-destroying insect infestation testing, radon testing and mold inspections.
The inspector must always wear a safety harness when performing the inspection. He or she must also carry a ladder and other tools for accessing hard-to-reach places. The home inspector must also have a copy of the standard home inspection checklist, and he or she is encouraged to attend the property’s inspection so that questions can be addressed on the spot.
It is important to understand that a home inspection cannot find every problem in a house. There are always going to be some issues that must be dealt with, but a thorough home inspection should uncover most problems that can be corrected.
It’s a Way to Save Money
Home inspections offer potential homeowners a chance to save money. Many of the issues that are uncovered during an inspection can be addressed by the new homeowner before they become major problems. For example, if the inspector finds that the plumbing is in need of repairs, the plumber can be called in to perform the necessary work and this will help to save the buyer money.
It is also possible for the new home owner to negotiate with the seller based on the findings of the home inspection. Often times, sellers are willing to pay for certain repairs or even lower the sale price of the property in order to make the deal happen.
When a new home is purchased, it is often the responsibility of the new owner to get homeowner’s insurance. The insurance company will want proof that the home is in good condition before providing coverage. If the new owner has a home inspection report from an accredited inspector, the insurance company may be more likely to approve the policy.
There are some things that a home inspector cannot catch, however. This includes problems that are hidden in the unreachable corners of attics and crawl spaces or just appear as a result of normal wear and tear. These types of issues are more often the fault of the home builder or simply maintenance that needs to be done in order to keep the house in good shape.
If a new home has significant problems that will need to be fixed, the buyer may decide not to purchase the property. This could potentially save the buyer thousands of dollars. On the other hand, if the problems are minor and can be easily resolved, the purchase can go through as planned.
Home buyers should always take the time to find a qualified and experienced home inspector. Ask for referrals from family and friends and compare prices. They should also make sure that the inspector they choose covers everything that they need to have inspected. The more information that is provided to the home inspector, the more thorough the report will be.
It’s a Way to Negotiate
Buying a home is a huge deal, especially in today’s competitive market. Once you’ve had your offer accepted, getting a home inspection is critical to ensure you know exactly what you’re buying into. If your home inspector finds serious issues, you may decide to renegotiate the contract with the seller. Depending on the severity of the problem, it could be worth sacrificing some of your dream home’s features to get a better deal.
When it comes to negotiating with the home seller, it’s important to keep your requests reasonable. You should focus on things that would be dangerous for you or your family to live in if they weren’t fixed, such as outdated electrical wiring or a leaky roof. You should also avoid asking for cosmetic things like chipped paint or minor landscaping problems, as these aren’t usually worth arguing over.
Many buyers have a lot of repair requests listed in their home inspection report, so it’s important to prioritize and be selective. The best way to approach this is by discussing your needs with your home inspector, who can help you create a list of must-haves vs. nice-to-haves.
In addition to safety concerns, you should always consider the cost of a home improvement before requesting it to be fixed. Obviously, major repairs like foundation issues are expensive and can be costly to fix in the future, but some less-serious items might be easier for you to negotiate, such as having the septic tank pumped or the oil tank decommissioned before you move in.
A home inspector’s report can also reveal significant defects that might make the property uninsurable, and in this case it’s best to walk away if it doesn’t seem like a good investment for you. It’s also a good idea to have your home inspected before you sign any contracts in order to be confident that it’s a safe and sound purchase.
The standard home inspection contingency in real estate contracts says that if the home inspection uncovers major issues, you have the right to back out of the contract free of penalty within a certain timeframe. Adding this contingency to your purchase can save you from a lot of stress and money in the long run.