Different Kinds Of Home Inspections

By Pammy McGrath


If you have just submitted an offer on a home and it was accepted, you are ready to enter the world of escrow. One of the tasks that you need to accomplish quickly is hiring a home inspector to take a good look at your new property. This professional will provide you with an unbiased assessment of the home and surrounding property, identifying problem areas if they exist. There are many inspectors that you might wish to hire to take a look at the property.

Most buyers simply hire a professional to perform a general home inspection that looks at every room and area of the house, as well as taking a general look at the grounds. Your inspector should have a checklist for each room of the house. He or she should look at all the plumbing, ensure that appliances are functioning properly, check electrical outlets, inspect the attic and basement, check the foundation and basically give the home and all its systems a good once-over. It is rare that an inspector will not find even one small issue, but often these are just minor fixes that are easy to handle. Even if you are buying new construction, hire an inspector. The cost of this inspection really depends on how big of a home you are buying, but you should plan to spend about $300 or more for this service, and it is well worth the expense.

A home inspection is absolutely essential, but it is also wise to hire other types of inspectors to ensure that you have a solid idea about current and potential problems that might occur. For instance, termites often cannot be seen by a regular homeowner, but that doesn't mean they haven't been munching away on the house. A pest control expert can look for signs of termites as well as other types of pests.

When you are buying a home that has fireplaces or perhaps a feature such as a swimming pool, then you should have someone come and take a look at these features. A pool inspector will look for cracks or leaks in the pool as well as looking at the filters and motors. A fireplace and chimney inspector probably is only needed if the home is older than about 25 years. With an older home, it can be wise to hire people to look for signs of lead paint, signs of asbestos and problems with plumbing and electrical systems as well as hiring a general inspector.

If the home is located in an area prone to soil issues or ground movement such as earthquakes, it is also wise to have a geologist come out and inspect the home and the foundation as well as doing an evaluation of the property itself. Even if the home is not located in this type of area, if you notice an abundance of cracks in the home, it is wise to have someone come out and check the foundation.

When you are searching for a qualified home inspector, be sure to ask your real estate agent for advice, as these professionals often can provide you with a list of excellent options. The team at Nixon Real Estate, for instance, not only can suggest inspectors but also help you find amazing Fredericksburg homes for sale, Kerrville homes for sale and Texas Hill Country homes for sale.




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