Getting a home inspection when buying a house is a common and standard procedure that many buyers complete during this process. A home inspection can reveal a lot of important details about the condition of a home, and this is one of the top reasons buyers choose to get one when they are buying a house. If you are currently shopping for a home, here are three important things you should know about home inspections.
You Aren't Usually Required to Get One
You might think that getting a home inspection is done simply because it is a requirement, but this is not always the case. There are certain types of loan programs that may require this as a step in the home-buying process, but most loan types do not require it. In other words, getting a home inspection is one of the few optional steps you can take when buying a house.
You Will Have to Pay for It
A second thing to understand is that you, the buyer, will be responsible for paying the fee for the home inspection. On average, home inspections cost around $324, but this varies by location and size of home. If you are trying to cut costs when buying a house, you might think about skipping the inspection. While this might be an option, skipping a home inspection is not usually recommended.
You Will Learn About the House
If you skip the home inspection, you may find surprises in the home after moving in. While you could still find some surprises, you are not likely to find as many if you get a home inspection. A home inspection is a thorough evaluation of the entire home. The inspector will look at every important part of the house during the inspection and will write down the findings on a report. This report can help you determine the condition of the house as well as all the systems in the home.
Additionally, if the home inspection reveals a potential problem, you could hire another inspector to examine the problem. For example, if the home inspection reveals that the furnace is really old, you might want to hire an HVAC company to examine the heating system so that you can find out how long the system will most likely last or what work it currently needs.
Getting a home inspection might be an optional step; however, you should not skip doing this. If you would like to learn more, contact a home inspection company today.