Real Estate Marketing & Beyond
Just what does your home inspection actually cover? It might seem a stupid question, but many buyers really don’t know the answer.
A home inspection is essential before buying any property, regardless of what kind of state it’s in. it could be old or new, doesn’t really matter. You need to have a property inspection first. Think of it as a medical for your home. People always have regular checkups by their GP, and your home shouldn’t be any different.
Choose a housing inspector you can trust. Image courtesy of Ring Electric
When investing in a home, you absolutely must know what future costs may be entailed. Will the home need immediate repairs? Is there anything that is likely to need addressing in the future? These are all reasons to have a home inspected.
Many people believe that once a home has been given the all-clear, all is well and good. Right?
Wrong! There are limits on what your home inspector will check for. While he will check for most things, he is under no obligation to check for any faults that are considered to be latent defects, nor is he required to check anything that might be concealed.
Termite damage
What that means is that if a defect in the home is covered by snow, debris, furniture, kids toys, posters, the dogs bed or anything else, he isn’t actually required to move these things of the way in order to inspect the home properly. What’s more, he will not be liable for anything he missed.
Another thing they have no requirement to check is the presence of any potentially harmful animals or plants. This includes things like mold, or “wood destroying organisms”, things like woodworm that could cause thousands of dollars worth of damage.
So what does all this tell us? It tells us to find a home inspector that we can trust, someone who is prepared to go above and beyond the call of duty to make sure that the home you are buying is ship shape.
American Society of Housing Inspectors. Image courtesy of Centurion Inspections
That may seem hard, but according to the American Society of Housing Inspectors (ASHI), it’s not impossible. They recommend choosing an inspector from their certified list.
“ASHI certified professionals are well trained and exhibit the highest standard of honesty,” a spokesperson for the organization said. “Our members demonstrate high levels of proficiency, and they show a commitment to continuing their education in order to maintain their ASHI member status.”
Inspections are all about peace of mind – so make sure you get it.
