You love the house you just saw on your search for a new home. Do you put a clause in the offer to purchase for a home inspection? What you REALLY need to know when choosing a home inspector!!!
No, I'm not going to talk about the house inspectors credentials and everything else you have probably heard on TV. I'm sure you know that already. I'm going to give you a warning that you, most likely, haven't heard before. But first, let's talk about the "Should I? or Shouldn't I?"
Your house is going to be one the single one investment that you will put most of your money into. Even if you are a multi-millionaire your house will probably be representative of your wealth. Those pictures of Tiger Woods home floating around the Internet come to mind. What also comes to mind is the phrase, "A new broom sweeps well.". When you see the house of your dreams you are not thinking about the potential mold behind the walls and water damage that has been covered up in a 'staging' effort. That house is perfect, in your mind...but is it?
I remember the time I went to see a house that I was considering purchasing and the teenage child decided to take a shower at the time of the viewing. I opened the closet under the bathroom and the amount of water seeping through the ceiling ensured that I wasn't coming back!
As you may have already ascertained...a home inspection is a must. Paying a few hundred dollars can save you, potentially, thousands. You may decide to buy the house anyways but armed with new information the seller may agree to a lesser price considering the price of the fix-ups.
OK, so here's something that no one tells you. Do Not use the home inspector that the reals estate agent recommends. I know you trust your real estate agent, otherwise you wouldn't be working with them to find your dream home. Remember, that real estate agent gives many referrals to that home inspector. The home inspector really wants to help the real estate agent sell the house or he/she may not get much more business from this steady referral base. I'm not suggesting that home inspectors will lie on their reports but they may not delve much beyond the letter of the law when it comes to their disclosure. House inspectors must cover a number of points to do a proper inspection but it doesn't cover Everything. Personally, I think it's more likely that if the house inspector that you hire, that is working just for you, feels there may be issues beyond the scope of what is necessary for them to inspect they might be more willing to disclose this information than if they were referred by the professional that is trying to push through the sale.
