If you’re in the process of house hunting, here’s a tip that

you should pay careful attention to:

Whether you are considering buying a brand new house, and older

house in good shape, or a handyman special, get the house

inspected before closing the sale.

An inspection will cost you a few hundred dollars, but the

knowledge you will gain – and the money you can possibly save –

are a wise investment!

While a home inspection is recommended by any good realtor,

anyone who has been through the house buying process knows that

a home inspection is very important. In general (and it may be

different in your state) home inspectors are NOT licensed

contractors.

So, while they will look at the overall condition of your

electrical, plumbing, and carpentry, you might want to consider

hiring a licensed contractor or engineer to do your home

inspection. It’s more expensive, but if major problems exist –

ones that most people could not identify – it will more than

pay for itself.

AT THE VERY LEAST, if you see potential problems, hire a

plumber, electrician, and carpenter to give you an estimate for

any possible repairs. Some will do this for a small fee, some

will do it free, but either way, it will be well worth the

peace of mind!

If there are any problems with the house, ask the seller to fix

them.

The seller is NOT required to fix them, so if they say no, you

need to decide whether you want to fix them yourself (and if

you can even afford to fix them). Or if you want to call off

the deal and look for a new house (but make sure to consult

with your lawyer first!). These inspections cost money, but

major surprises can cost you much, much more!

Make sure you look OUTSIDE the house as well.

Have the septic inspected, have the well inspected, look around

the yard and check out the entire property. Don’t overlook

anything that might cost you money later on.

Ask the sellers for service records of any appliances that will

stay with you, such as the furnace, central air conditioning,

etc.

Finally, get YOUR own inspector, not one connected with the

realtor.

And as with any major contract, ask the inspector for

references first, and contact them. Also, make sure your

inspector is licensed by the state in which you are buying the

house (most states require this licensing, but better to be

safe). This may help you later on if there are any problems.

It’s YOUR money.

And YOUR house.

So do EVERYTHING you can to avoid paying any more money than

you have to!

During the inspection, walk through the house with the

inspector. Watch everything that the inspector “inspects” (and

does not inspect) and ask as many questions as you want to

learn as much as you can about the house.

Look at everything – little and big – such as outlets,

switches, faucets, small areas, phone lines, etc. The inspector

might take a quick look at these items, but make sure everything

works – all light switches, outlets, etc. If not, have the

inspector put it on the report.

After the inspection, you should receive a written report. Make

sure you read between the lines of the inspection report - and

take your time reading the fine print. The sellers will want a

response within a few days, and you don’t want to miss the

deadline.

But at the same time, take your time reading through the

report!

You would think that items that should be addressed would be

highlighted, but that’s not always the case.

So take your time, and read the report thoroughly!

If ANYTHING is broken, or even questionable, consider hiring a

specialist – for the chimney, pool, central air, etc. – many

professionals will come out for free to take a look at the

items, and give you a quote!

Even if the sellers don’t agree to fix all the problems (which

is likely, so don’t worry) it’s better for you to know, and

avoid costly surprises after you move in!