Why You Need a Home Inspection

by Yvonne Jeffery

It's not just potential home buyers who can benefit from having their house inspected by a qualified professional home inspector. A home inspection can identify the condition of the physical structure and systems of your home, letting you know about problems that might be safety issues and about where and when potential repairs might be necessary.

Think of it as a checkup for your house's health-and an excellent way to start learning about your house.

As the home inspector progresses through the house (which typically takes two to three hours), you'll have a chance to see what he or she is looking at, become familiar with signs of potential problems, and ask questions. Many inspectors are happy to provide tips on maintenance during the process and in their written reports.

You can use those reports to plan preventive maintenance, find problems before they find you, determine the extent of a problem that you already know about and choose ways to solve it, and help you guide future renovations.

It might be tempting to think that since you live in the house, you know it best. But a good home inspector arrives at your house armed with years of experience and technical knowledge. The inspector understands how the house was put together and what's likely to go wrong, so a home inspection is a sound investment in your home's future.

Fact

The cost of a home inspection varies depending on the size of your house, its age and construction, and any specialized testing that you need-but expect to pay between $300 and $500 for an average home's inspection.

To find a qualified home inspector, ask for recommendations from friends, business colleagues, or real estate agents. You can also check local telephone directories under such headings as “Home Inspection Services.”

While some areas of the country do license home inspectors, many don't. Look for one who belongs to a professional group such as the American Society of Home Inspectors-membership indicates that the inspector follows a code of practice and ethics.

Ask about the inspector's background. How much experience does he or she have in residential home inspection, and what kind of education or training does he or she have in construction, architecture, or building science? Does the inspector carry valid errors and omissions insurance? Does the inspector encourage your participation in the home inspection and provide you with a written report?

My name is Scott Grebner and I have been helping my clients realize their own personal real estate dreams. Real estate is a relationship-based business that works best when client relationships are built on trust and confidence. My goal is having clients be completely satisfied with the professional and caring service they have received.

The role of technology is rapidly changing how the real-estate market functions in this country today. Gerharter Realtors is embracing these new mediums of communication to better serve our customers. We have created our e-family to better place important information in your hands to help you with your housing needs. As a part of Gerharter Enterprises we have access to a broader range of additional services and resources to better assist you.  Visit me at my Web Site, Blog, Facebook, Twitter, You Tube or Pinterest.  Please check out our helpful resources on Sellers Tips, Buyers Tips, Foreclosure Tips, and Mortgage Tips. For a personal consultation please visit our Office.

It seems that the dream of past generations was to pay off a mortgage. The dream of today's young families is to get one.  I would love to hear from you, about your Real Estate Dreams and questions.

Email me at scott@gerharterrealtors.com.