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Inspect your home - it's the right thing to do
Finding the right home can be exhausting. That's one of the reasons why many home buyers start making cost-cutting decisions before they procure a loan. As frequently as most people purchase homes, skimping on the home inspection is not a lesson to be learned the hard way.
Choosing a home inspector is not something that should be left entirely up to your real estate agent, and certainly not to the seller. Find out if any areas of the house requiring special qualifications need home inspection. You'll save money by hiring a single home inspector for the general inspection and special needs. Then inquire trusted friends who have recently bought or sold a home. Where they pleased with the service? Can the home inspector they recommended provide a substantial number of pleased customers from the last year? At this point you may want to inquire about the inspector's resume.
What kind of specific training does he or she have? A certified home inspector is not a highly qualified title and is best accompanied with experience in other fields.
Does the home inspector undertake regular continuing education courses to keep up with advancements in practices?
Does the home inspector belong to organizations that require more than a membership fee? This is a tough one to ask, but it's considerably easier than writing large checks shortly after closing.
What about errors and omissions insurance? If the inspector doesn't have this, nothing protects him, or you, from any large oversight.
In the event that you don't know anyone who recently used the services of an inspector, consult your real estate agent. Even if you know the agent well, get at least three recommendations. This leaves you in control and will prevent you from relying on your real estate agent's golf partner.
Even though you're not a qualified home inspector, don't underestimate your ability to catch slight problems before closing. During the final walkthrough, resist the temptation to squabble over furniture placement, and instead run through this simple home inspection checklist:
Turn every light fixture on and off
Run water and look for leaks
Run appliances for a while (a whole dryer cycle may not be an option)
Open and close all doors
Flush the toilets
Check the ceilings walls and floors for irregularities
Run garbage disposal and exhaust fans
Open and close the windows
Make sure the seller has moved all debris out
It's pretty rudimentary, but this list will save you the headache of wondering why you didn't make such simple investigations in the first place.
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