Wednesday, November 17, 2010

A Few Things You Should Know About a Home Inspection

1.  Choose an accredited home inspector.
It is probably fair to say that many real estate transactions hinge on the home inspection, so choosing an experienced and accredited home inspector is important.  Choose an inspector in your area from a variety of home inspection organizations, which usually include successful completion of training programs, ongoing training, long term experience and adherence to standards of practice and codes of ethics.

2.  Remember, it's about adverse conditions, not cosmetic flaws.
An inspector will point out adverse or questionable conditions or safety related concerns, but will skip cosmetic items that don't relate to the integrity of the home.

3.  There are basic areas included in the report.
This may vary according to the property, but a professional inspection usually includes the home's exterior, foundation and walls, roofs and chimneys, decks, windows, doors, attics, electrical and heating systems, plumbing, air conditioning, basement and crawl space and garages.  A neatly detailed and easy to read report should follow.

4.  Seller and buyer inspection tips.
If you are a seller, have a home inspection in advance to find any problems before the buyer does.  Fixing problems in advance leaves less negotiation room for the buyer.  If you are a buyer, the one thing you should not skip is the home inspection.  It is a reasonable request and is information that may effect the transaction.

As always, for more information on home inspections in the East Bay and all real estate questions, don't hesitate to contact me at fritzhoch.@aol.com

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