Checklist For Setting Up A Home Inspection: Fill & Download for Free

Assuming your basic goal is to get a great home in some specific community at a good price, I think Dave Steinberg has a nice list, here are my additions:Be wary of "helpful" friends and family. Just because your roommate's uncle is a real estate broker doesn't mean you should use him and trust his judgement on your buying decision. This can be a really expensive lesson to learn. The same is true of someone who is a lender, inspector, real estate lawyer, contractor etc. These people might be the right choice, but don't put your life in their hands. This is likely the biggest financial move of your life, so give it your full attentionDo your due diligence. See a lot of properties before making a decision. Monitor what houses are listing for and what they are closing for. Don't bid the asking price unless the seller has set an unusually aggressive price. The only way you'll know if this is the case is if you track the market for at least few weeks/couple months.Be careful about real estate agents making claims about the inexpensive cost of repairs and renovations. When searching for my home I would often neglect to tell agents my profession (Structural Engineer) and simply let them talk. More often then not I'd end up giving them enough rope to hang themselves, as they'd routinely drift into speaking about things well outside their expertise. Watch out when they start saying things like "it is really cheap to knock down this wall, that is just some drywall, cheap cheap cheap"Be careful about selecting your inspector. You want the old man inspector that takes so long the selling agent is getting annoyed. The guy who digs his hands and fingers into every little crevice, not the cheap and quick guy with some fancy gadgets. Don't get cheap on the inspection. If you are buying a home for 300k, does it really make sense to haggle over $400 or $500 for the inspection?If you are in a community with any flooding risk, Do not buy the house that is at the lowest spot in the neighborhood.Be careful about major deficiencies in the home. Be weary of a home that has noticeable lean when viewed from across the street, large cracks in the masonry. settling foundations, severely sloped floors. If you have these issues, make sure to get them assessed by an engineer before committing your money. These problems are difficult to assess and the cost to remedy is hard to nail down. Getting a new furnace, new roof, can be expensive, but they are fairly easy to estimate, dealing with a settling foundation is different, so try to understand the difference.

Small house on an autumn’s day | HD photo by Scott Webb (@scottwebb) on UnsplashA home inspection is a vital part of the process of purchasing a new home. Of course, with the mortgage process, paperwork, and all the other considerations that come with owning a new home, there's plenty of stuff that falls through the cracks.Don't let a home inspection be one of them. It's essential you get one set up - performed by a reliable, licensed, and knowledgeable inspector - before you officially purchase the home. Doing so early can save you a lot of trouble and a lot of money down the road.So, what exactly is involved with the home inspection process?First, let's define what a home inspector actually does. The inspector will perform a thorough check of all aspects of the home, delivering a detailed report of the findings to the potential buyer. That way, the buyer can request a fix for those problems by the owner before the completed purchase.Here's what the home inspector will check:The structure, making sure that the foundation of the home and the overall construction (siding, windows, doors, etc.) are in good condition.The exterior, looking at the roof, gutter system, crawlspaces, and outdoor walkways (among other things).The interior, from the chimney and skylights to the attic, basement, floors, and ceilings. This is often where water damage, mold, and cracks pop up.The electrical, assuring that all light fixtures, outlets, and HVAC elements are functioning properlyThe plumbing, making sure that all bathroom fixtures and other plumbing areas are in good working order.Here are some other things you should know about home inspections:There's no such thing as a pass / fail for a home inspection. Instead, the final report will only detail the condition of the house and any current or potential problems.The report will not provide cost estimates of fixing the potential problems. Once the report is final, talk to your agent to examine your options and look at next-step deadlines. The seller will often compromise on repairs to keep the process moving.Expect the length of the home inspection to be around 2-3 hours or longer. Try to be present during the inspection; you'll be able to follow the inspector around on most places of the house.Try to schedule a home inspection as soon as you have a signed purchase agreement This will provide plenty of time to discover and fix any issues that might arise with the house.The usual cost range for a basic home inspection is anywhere from $350 to $600 dollars, depending on the size, age, condition, and geographic location of the house.Pool inspections and inspections relating to radon, mold, and termites (among other things) may require an extra cost.Be sure to check and make sure that your home inspector has the required license and insurance before you hire them to do the job.Interested in learning more about home inspections? There's an excellent blog on the subject here.

If you had a home inspection completed when you were purchasing the home, reach back out to the home inspector as they usually have really good information available.If you did not have a home inspection completed when you were buying the home (shame on you and your agent), then I would recommend you spend the $300 to $500 for a comprehensive home inspection. A good home inspection should take about three hours if the inspector is educating you properly.The home inspector should talk to you about the estimated remaining economic life of the roof, the electric and electrical items and plumbing along with heating and air condition.A good home inspection is worth its weight in gold for valuable information.Since every home is made with different materials and quality of materials it is not possible or practical to be specific on maintenance expectation but if you were to Google “how to properly maintain my home” you would find some good reading.I suggest to home buyers I am assisting with their financing to set aside at least $250 a month for future home maintenance and repairs for an small to average size home (up to 1,400 square foot) and to add an additional $10 per month per 100 Square foot above that.Every home, regardless of age will need repairs and maintenance.Martin Straka NMLS# 589189 (973) 598–5006