A Home Inspection Can Save You Big Money

If you are buying a new house it can be easy to think that you don’t have to worry about getting a home inspection. How much could go wrong in a house that is only a few months old, or even a few years? Sadly the answer is a lot, just because someone builds houses it doesn’t mean they do it well.

Your best protection against buying a home that is substandard in any way is to have it inspected by a qualified home inspector. It can be difficult as you have probably falled in love with the house and are imagining how your children will look playing in the garden. You don’t want to think that there could possibly be anything wrong with your future home, but isn’t it better to know sooner rather than later that the roof will need replacing in a year or two.

While it may seem costly to spend $300-$500 on a home inspection, it is a lot cheaper than going to see an attorney and starting a court case to get the $5,000 bill for a new drainline paid by the old owners who knew about the problem when they sold. People are not always dishonest, sometimes they genuinely think that the plumbing leak in the bathroom doesn’t matter as it occured a few months ago.

Finding a home inspector that is certified is important, don’t be tempted to ask a friend who is a contractor to look over the place just so you can save a few dollars. Home inspectors are specially trained to be able to spot problems in your home that you (or your contractor buddy) would miss, most of us have no knowledge of electrical systems or plumbing beyond the turning on of lights and the flushing of the toilet.

In some states, it makes sense to also have inspections for radon, mold and termites. You also want to make sure that the roof is thoroughly inspected as is the basement. You can also ask the seller to purchase a one-year home warranty that will cover the major components in the house for one year and is renewable if the buyer chooses to do so. These are usually less than $450 and are worth their weight in gold.

Trying to work out what a reverse mortgage is exactly? I have no easy way to show you but if you are at or very near the age of retirement then it is well worth finding out more on.