01 Feb Should You Have A Home Inspection Before Placing A Bid?
Many of us think with our hearts when we’re searching for a new home, and often find ourselves falling in love with a place and believing we have to buy it at any cost. While there may indeed be a time and a place for making purchases on a whim or from the heart, buying a new home probably isn’t one of them – unless of course, money is no object and you can afford to buy a property that might backfire on you further down the line!
Let’s face it, the home buying process is far from romantic, and when you’re dealing with large sums of money – possibly the largest amount you’ve ever had to deal with – we need to replace our emotional responses to a property, with practical ones. When we allow ourselves to have a romantic vision of a home we’ve viewed, it’s easy to then ignore, or downplay any faults it might have; faults which could prove costly in the future.
So, how can you avoid letting your emotional responses to a property take over, and be sure that the decision you make to place a bid on a home, is a well guided and realistic one?
Home inspections – a simple way to make a more informed decision:
Did you know that when you place an offer on a property, you have the option to insert a home inspection clause? Hiring a professional, qualified home inspector to review the inner workings of a property and identify any potential issues, can help save you time, stress and money.
What does a home inspector look for?
A home inspector will perform a detailed visual inspection of a property’s structure and components, to establish whether everything is in working order, or if there are any potential safety concerns. Paying special attention to the following areas in a property:
- Roof
- Ventilation
- Fireplace
- Plumbing
- Electrical
- Appliances
- Exterior
- HVAC
- Structure
a home inspector will conduct themselves professionally and perform the assessment thoroughly, before producing a written report containing their findings.
What should you be aware of when scheduling a home inspection?
It’s important to remember that when it comes to home inspections, the cost of hiring an inspector to carry it out, may vary significantly according to the age of the property, its size and where it’s located. However, you should never try to save money by hiring someone who isn’t fully qualified to carry out the assessment, since doing so could result in unidentified issues with your new home that may prove costly either immediately, or in the future.
Whether you experience a romantic epiphany when viewing a property, or are able to view it rationally and from an honest perspective, it always makes sense to have a property inspection carried out, if only for your peace of mind.