Many first-time home buyers find buying a house a frightening experience. They know that they will be maintaining or improving the home, but have little or no experience in maintenance. So they buy a house in perfect condition. They hire a home inspection company to find all the flaws.

There is no perfect home. Air conditioners break down, plumbing pipes leak, and roof tiles blow away in the wind.

When you are buying a house, set reasonable expectations about what the home inspector can do. Their job is to inform about the integrity and state of what you are buying, both good and bad.

An inspection of a home should last several hours. This is enough time to cover all the built-in appliances and all the mechanical, electrical, and gas systems.

An inspector does not test for pests, or sample the septic system. You need inspectors who are industry-specific for these tasks.

Here’s what you need to do.

1. Make sure that the inspector you hire has a license. Home inspectors’ responsibilities vary depending on state law and their area of expertise.

2. Ask what is covered by the inspection. Some inspection companies offer environmental services, including radon and lead-based paint. Be prepared to schedule and hire several inspectors to meet your lender’s needs and to pay hundreds of dollars for each type.

3. Some inspection reports only cover one building, the main house. If you are having a specialty inspection, such as a termite inspection, ensure that the inspection includes all buildings on the property, including guest houses, detached Garages, Storage Buildings, etc.

4. Attend the inspection, and follow along the inspectors. You will be able to see the problems yourself and determine what is important, what needs replacing now or in the future, and what is not.

5. Do not expect the seller to fix or replace all negatives found on the report. Some items are not negotiable if you’re applying for a VA or FHA guaranteed loan. You must let the seller know about them. Otherwise, you should be careful how you negotiate with the seller.

Home inspections not only point out the problems but also what is working well. You can use it to help you make a final decision on the home, whether to ask the seller to do repairs or offer a lower price, or buy the house as-is or not at all.

Original Blog: https://realtytimes.com/archives/item/1015714-20180308-no-perfect-home-exists-what-you-should-know-about-home-inspections?rtmpage=