Are you in the final stages of closing on a home? Are you currently in search of a new house (either actively or passively) and looking to get an advantage? If so, then you need to schedule a pre-purchase inspection on the house.
Doing so can give you more confidence in your purchase. If they find anything that raises a red flag, the seller can take care of it before you close on the home. If there aren’t any glaring issues, then you’ll have more peace of mind with your purchase.
Be sure to read below to learn all that you can about a pre-purchase inspection for your home.
What Is a Pre-Purchase Inspection?
A pre-purchase inspection (AKA home inspection) is when you request to have an inspector come into the house you’re interested in buying to look at the overall quality of the home.
The main objective is for them to find any defects or larger issues with the house. They take a look at things such as the home’s plumbing, walls, foundation, windows, roof, electrical system, attic, floors, doors, basement (if applicable), and so on.
A home inspection generally takes anywhere from 2 to 4 hours but can depend on the actual home and also the extra services (termite, mold, radon, sewer scope) the buyer may order. Once the inspector has had a look at everything, they will write up a report for both the buyer and their agent to take a look at.
Just to clarify, a home inspection that comes back with a few common issues shouldn’t automatically deter you from the property. It’s merely to make sure you know what you’re getting.
By alerting you and the seller to certain issues, you might be able to negotiate for the seller to make the necessary repairs or lower the home’s asking price so that you can pay for the repairs yourself.
How to Get a Pre-Purchase Inspection
To get a pre-purchase inspection, you merely make the seller or realtor that you’re working with aware of your interest in having one done.
As far as who pays for the inspection, that’s for you to work out. Generally, the buyer (you) would be the one to pay for it. However, a seller will sometimes pay to have a pre-listing inspection performed so that they can get out in front of any potential issues.
In order to schedule your inspection, simply reach out to a trusted Central Florida pre-purchase inspector. They’ll have the experience and know-how that you need to ensure you’re walking into a good situation when you close on the home.
The more experience they have, the more in-depth and information their final reports will be. Make sure that they inspect all the necessary aspects of your house that you need.
For example, you never want to assume that a home inspector will check things like the sprinklers, pool and spa, mold issues, etc. Make sure they do before you schedule with them. Also ensuring proper licensing and credentials is very important.
What Does the Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist Include?
This is the biggest piece of the puzzle. You want to hire a pre-purchase inspector that covers as many different facets of the home as possible.
Here are several things you’ll want to make sure the pre-purchase inspection service will take a look at during their visit:
- Plumbing
- Bathrooms
- Electric system
- HVAC system
- Gutters
- Siding
- Stairs
- Landscape
- Attic
- Roof
- Interior and Exterior walls
- Framing
- Insulation
- Smoke Alarms
- Kitchen Appliances
- Windows and Doors
The pre-purchase inspector is knowledgeable on all of the features and has been trained for how to spot issues and complications of each.
Make sure the inspection service you hire has an elaborate training process for their employees. It’s okay to inquire about the specific inspector they’re scheduling for your property.
What Should I Expect?
The pre-purchase home inspection process is virtually pain-free for both the buyer and seller. The inspector simply works out a time to come by and spend 3 to 4 hours performing their due diligence on the property, checking all necessary aspects of it.
Both the buyer and seller can be present during the home inspection process if they wish, but if the house is vacant our inspectors all have special Realtor Lockbox Access and can enter the home if give permission before hand.
Generally, you can expect it to cost anywhere from $300 to $500, but the total depends on your property’s size, the time of year, demand, the age of the house, location, and so forth.
Too many people make the mistake of skipping their pre-purchase inspection in an attempt to “save” themselves a few hundred dollars.
However, without the inspection, you might purchase a home with a faulty HVAC unit that breaks down after you seal the deal on the house. Now, you’re forced to spend thousands of more dollars to fix it. Something you could’ve avoided with a pre-purchase inspection.
What Are Some Common Issues?
There are many common issues that a home inspector has been trained to find. These issues need to be resolved prior to your closing on the house.
Common problems include things like mold, wood rot, sealing problems on doors/windows, pest infestations, water damage, or cracks in the stucco and foundation issues.
You shouldn’t have to have a trained eye to avoid these problems. Hire a pre-purchase inspector to alleviate the risk of buying a home.
Schedule a Pre-Purchase Inspection for Your Future Home Today
Now that you have seen an in-depth guide on the pre-purchase inspection process and why it’s so important, it’s time to schedule one for your future Orlando area property today.
Be sure to read this article for more information on the 7 important questions that you need to ask a home inspector before you hire them.
For more inquiries, please feel free to reach out via our contact us page and we will be happy to assist you further.
