When you are first going to look at homes to buy, one of the most nerve-wracking parts of choosing the right house is figuring out if the home you are looking at has any hidden flaws. Some places may look like palaces, but is it just plaster and paint? This is why getting a home inspection a necessary part of buying a new home. Professional home inspections will help you look behind the surfaces to see the real condition of the home.
Image: Gabriel Farrell / Flickr
However, before you get one done, do your homework. There are some home inspections that are essentially worthless, particularly when you read the fine print. These home inspection reports might say that because the home inspector wasn’t permitted to move the possessions of the current owner, he or she could not examine anything that might have been blocked from view. If that’s the case, let’s hope there wasn’t a chair in front of a fire hazard or a faulty electrical junction.
Bad reports might also suggest that relevant areas of the house were only inspected from a particular vantage point that would never show any defects to a home inspector (such as examining a roof from the ground).
To avoid this, look for certified home inspectors, or hire a contractor who is licensed. They will not only be able to see if there are problems – they will also be able to determine more completely if there are problems with the heating and cooling vents, the electrical systems, the foundation, whether there are issues with mould, and if the house meets fire codes.
In fact, not only will licensed contractors be able to tell you if your home meets the basic requirements, but they can also give you a general idea of what will be needed to be done to bring the house up to code. These figures can be a great tool to renegotiate the price of the home you are looking at. For instance, if you find out the roof is leaking, you can get the seller to shoulder the cost of the repairs.
If you need a home inspection, you can find one through the Canadian Association of Home and Property Inspectors, or by contacting a licensed contractor. A typical home inspection will cost around $300 – $500.
Remember, getting a good home inspection before you buy your house will help you avoid serious issues, could help you renegotiate a better price, and will be worth it in the long run.
Nelson Goulart
Broker of Record with Signature Service GMAC Real Estate
www.ssgmac.ca
No related posts found
