What You Need
to Know About Home Inspections
Learning about various types of home inspections is a
critical part of the process when you are buying or selling
a home. Not all inspections are alike, and not all repairs
are paid for by the seller.
Before lenders approve loans for buying homes, they require
termite clearances from pest control companies. These termite
inspections are usually the only home inspections required
as part of buying or selling a home. The purpose of these
inspections is to find damage done by termites, wood beetles,
and dry rot caused by moisture. This damage is listed in
section one of a termite report. Preventive things that
the inspector feels could lead to section one items later
are listed in section two of a termite report. After the
report is made, a termite inspector usually gets estimates
and has the work done by a sub-contractor. Generally, the
seller pays for repairs required under section one. Section
two items are negotiable between buyer and seller.
It's important for you to know is that there are other
inspections you should have before purchasing or selling
a home.
Roof inspections are important because, as a buyer, you
don't want to buy a home with roof damage. A roof inspection
is important for the seller to find out whether there is
damage and to consider that when setting a sales price.
If you're buying or selling a home through a real estate
agent, the agent can recommend roofing companies with reliable
reputation. If you are not using an agent to sell your
home, the old expression, caveat emptor ("let the
buyer beware") is important. Get recommendations from
friends who have sold their homes, rather than just picking
one out of a telephone book.
Professional home inspections can uncover problems that
the other inspections don't find. After a professional
home inspection, the company will usually offer a home
warranty to the buyer of the home. These warranties can
come in handy if problems occur after the sale. However,
they do not cover everything, and if you are going to get
a home warranty, it's important to get the best one available.
Some realtors give their buyers a home warranty as a gift.
Sellers may also pay for a home warranty. If a home warranty
is offered to you as a buyer, find out if you can get a
better one by paying more. You should always go over the
terms of the warranty carefully.
All in all, inspections and appraisals are a very important
part of the home buying process. You should learn as much
about these things as you can, because the knowledge may
save you from making a very serious mistake when it comes
to buying a home. |
