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A lot of home buyers ask me, “Should I get a home inspection?” The short answer is yes. A home inspection only costs a few hundred dollars, and it reveals any potential problems with a home before you own it. There are five important inspections for buyers:
- Structural and exterior inspection. The inspector looks at everything inside the home, such as plumbing, wiring, and heating systems to make sure everything is in working order. The inspector will also look at the outside of the home and make sure things like the roof and siding are in good condition. If any problems are reported, you can negotiate price and repairs with the seller.
- Pest inspection. This is important because you could have termites, carpenter ants, or other pests living in your home, some of which can have very damaging long term effects.
- Radon testing. Radon is an odorless gas that can cause cancer. It’s incredibly important to test for radon levels. If there is radon in the home, you can negotiate with a seller to have a mitigation system installed. The mitigation system will carry the gas out of your basement.
- Septic tests. If the property uses the public sewer, you don’t have to worry about this. If you have a septic tank, we recommend that a professional comes out, inspects it, and pumps it out prior to closing on the property.
- Well water testing. This is more of a speciality inspection, as most homeowners won’t have wells on their property. If there is one, have a professional come out and check the bacteria levels in the water.
For each of these inspections, you should hire a certified home inspector. If you have any questions, give me a call or send me an email. I would be happy to help you!
