You’re shopping around for a new home, but is it worth paying for home inspections on each property you’re thinking of buying?

Yes! A home inspection is one of the most important steps in the home-buying process. An home inspector will go through the home, inside and out, looking for potential problems, such as water damage, structural problems, insect infestations, and roofing issues.

To learn more, keep reading to find some of the most important reasons to have a home inspection done, whether you’re a seller or a buyer.

Home Inspections Will Help You Avoid Costly Mistakes

Professional inspections have one huge benefit—they help homebuyers avoid massive problems. Your home inspector will look over the home you’re thinking of buying, giving you a report containing the good, the bad, and the ugly.

Don’t buy a home without an inspection, as it could cost you big time. If you buy a home without knowing what problems it has, you’re then responsible for making the repairs, as the previous owner is now off the hook.

If the home has serious problems, like plumbing issues, termite damage, or structural repairs, these can cost you tens of thousands of dollars to repair.

Many Home Problems Aren’t Clearly Visible

Often, it’s impossible to examine the condition of a home just by looking at it. A home may look perfectly fine when you’re walking through it, but might have massive cracks in the foundation that you wouldn’t see unless you were looking for them.

Even something as simple as a stair handrail might look fine, but could be installed incorrectly, rendering the home unsafe.

Or, often homes have renovations or additions that were built illegally, without town approval. If the county finds out, your home might be deemed unsafe until the work is redone.

Your home inspector will look over all of these things, ensuring the home isn’t hiding any serious problems.

They Can Boost Your Home’s Value

While home inspections are important for buyers, they’re important for sellers as well. If you’re selling and you’re willing to have an inspection done, this can boost your home’s value, helping you sell for more.

This is because potential buyers will already know the conditions of the home and won’t need to pay for their own inspection. As long as your home is in pristine condition, and the inspector attests to that, you should be able to sell your home for the highest possible price.

They’ll Give You Peace of Mind

Inspections are helpful because they give both buyers and sellers peace of mind. A home is a huge investment, so you don’t want to fork out your money on a house until you know it’s in good shape.

Once the inspection is completed, you can buy with confidence, knowing that the home is worth the cost.

Sellers can get peace of mind from home inspections too, as you’re likely to feel more comfortable selling your home once you know it’s free from any problems. Many sellers skip this step, as they think it’s the buyer’s responsibility, but it’s a nice thing to do for the buyers and might also help your home sell faster.

Makes It Easier to Decide Which Home to Buy

There’s so much competition in the real estate market, which means buyers have plenty of choices. However, if you’ve narrowed your search down to two or three similar homes, how do you decide which one is right for your family?

Often, it all comes down to the home inspection. Have an inspection done for both properties, then go with the home that’s in the best shape, based on the outcome of the inspections.

Most buyers want a home that’s move-in ready and don’t want to spend weeks doing repairs or renovations before moving in. For that reason, the inspection will let you know which house is best for your needs.

A Home Inspector Is an Unbiased Third Party

It’s important to remember that a reputable home inspector is an unbiased third party, with nothing to gain or lose from your report.

Real estate agents, which are usually genuine, are not as unbiased—they get paid on commission and generally want to sell a home as quickly as possible.

It’s good to find an agent you trust, but also take everything they say with a grain of salt. If they tell you a home is in pristine condition, don’t automatically take their word for it—get an inspection done as well.

You can trust that the home inspector’s report will be honest, genuine, and thorough, which you might not get from your real estate agent.

Never Buy or Sell a House Without a Home Inspection

Home inspections are an essential part of selling or buying a home, so never skip this step! Many buyers are often tempted to forgo an inspection, as they want to save a few hundred dollars, but this is a small investment that could save you from making a huge financial mistake.

To get started, research home inspectors near you, looking for someone with lots of experience, positive reviews, and local knowledge. Then, contact them to make an appointment and they should be able to complete your new home’s inspection in a matter of days.

Get started today and buy with confidence, thanks to the help of your home inspector.

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