Are you buying your first home? This new territory must feel equal parts exciting and nervewracking. We’ve put together a list of mistakes you should avoid, and make this milestone solely joyful.
1. Not getting the home inspected
To state the obvious, buying a home is an expensive affair. But this shouldn’t mean that you cut down the expenses by avoiding a proper home inspection. Slacking on this front can prove to be far more expensive than the home inspection cost you would incur.
Even if the property seems stellar on paper and in person, still seek a professional’s help. Don’t blindly trust whatever the builder or contractor presents.
2. Not hiring a home inspector
You cannot fix home wiring faults without proper training and knowledge. Similarly, you’re not qualified to objectively inspect a property. It doesn’t matter how cautious and observant you are, hiring a professional home inspector is imperative. An experienced home inspector knows what builder and contractors are capable of hiding or misrepresenting.
3. Not researching
Just like you won’t purchase the first home you come across, you shouldn’t settle for any home inspector. Be thorough with your research, look at their experience, check out the references and verify the certifications. A good home inspector will share the strengths and weaknesses of the property you’re interested in. So compare a few home inspectors, before hiring one.
4. Not attending the inspection
Your work isn’t done by just hiring a home inspector. Even though presence is not mandatory during home inspections, it’s recommended. You will get to know valuable information about the property, which you might not deduce from the inspection report. Participating in your home inspection will allow you to clear any doubts and also ensure that the inspector is sincerely doing their work.
5. Not asking questions
Don’t refrain from asking any questions or explanations for the sake of being polite or out of sheer laziness. This is a crucial moment that will lead up to the big purchase. Don’t forget that this is what the home inspector is being paid for. Clear any doubts you have and get your money’s worth.
6. Interfering with the inspection
While participation and asking questions is encouraged, don’t interfere with the inspection. Don’t start pestering the inspector to check things or meddling with the electrical box. Let the inspector do their job, after all, they are the professional.
7. Skimming the report
Reading the report might feel like a tedious task but it has to be done. Carefully read the report instead of skimming and missing crucial information. Based on this report you can negotiate with the seller and request any repairs, if required. Ignoring the report is not only a waste of time and money, but can lead to bigger problems down the line.
8. Ignoring advice and suggestions
If you are entrusting the inspector with the task of inspecting your home, you should take their advice. Your home inspector might suggest additional testing or repairs, don’t ignore it. Incurring a few repairing expenses today will protect you from issues in the future.
9. Not getting re-inspection
After the required repairs are completed, it would be prudent to schedule a re-inspection. Don’t simply trust the seller’s word. Get a professional involved to ensure the repairs were done according to specifications, without cutting any corners.
10. Not creating a to-do list
For buying a house, everyone has some sort of guidelines they follow. You cannot recall all these requirements from the top of your head. This is why creating a to-do list is a smart idea. You can list down everything and discuss it with your home inspector.
To conclude, a home inspection protects you from committing a major investment blunder. Hopefully, these tips help you with purchasing your dream house!
