Home inspections are an important part of the real estate
process whether you are buying your first home, retiring to a
second home or relocating to a new area. Real estate agents must
work with a home inspection company that is both reputable and
trustworthy. Attention to detail and knowing how to report the
facts are essential to a thorough home inspection. In this
article I have asked Kevin Salva of US Inspects‰ in Virginia to
explain some of the basics of home inspection to help answer the
questions many homebuyers and sellers are asking.
No Stone Left Unturned
Home inspection covers many areas of the house. According to
Kevin, a home inspector must "objectively evaluate every angle
of the home." The first consideration for any home inspection is
the age of the house. New homes fall under stricter laws and
regulations. Therefore, the inspector must pay attention to the
safety features and be certain the home is in compliance with
the current safety requirements. Older homes are only expected
to meet the safety standards and regulations current in the year
they were built. However, older homes must be carefully assessed
for potential problems. "The structure of the house must be
analyzed along with the utilities, roof and heating and cooling
systems," states Kevin. "I do a number of different
inspections," continues Kevin, "including termite, Radon, septic
systems, private wells, and more." As a potential homebuyer it
is important to know what the basic home inspection includes,
and when you may need specific services such as termite, lead
paint or asbestos inspection. Your real estate agent can advise
you on what types of inspection are necessary.
Knowledge and Planning Lead to a Successful Purchase Kevin
suggests all homebuyers "become familiar with the average life
span of particular household appliances and systems." For
example, a typical heat pump works for approximately fifteen
years. If you buy a home and the heat pump is fourteen years old
this repair expense may come in the near future. As a homebuyer,
knowledge and planning are the keys to avoiding unexpected costs
and a lack of funds to complete important repairs. Kevin also
believes that an experienced and reputable home inspector will
offer the homebuyer a walk through of the property. This allows
the home inspector the opportunity to "begin a dialogue about
home maintenance" says Kevin. This dialogue will be a valuable
asset to the homeowner in the future. Homebuyers should also
talk to their real estate agent about home warranty programs.
Many systems or appliances that are potential future repair
costs can be covered by a home warranty that is renewable each
year. A home warranty is a great strategy for any homebuyer, but
especially for those purchasing older homes.
The Langauge of Home Inspection
Home inspection reports are not difficult to understand. "The
body of the report talks about the systems of the home," states
Kevin. The home inspector should know the difference between "a
defect" and "a related item" and be able to identify these items
clearly. The home inspector must speak the langauge of real
estate so the agent can fully comprehend the report. This allows
the real estate agent to advise the buyer in the best way
possible. A "defect" is an issue about the home that must be
addressed immediately. The buyer should expect the real estate
agent to budget the repair of the "defect" into the closing
contract. A "related item" is simply a typical maintenance item
that the homebuyer may need to be prepared to cover now or in
the future.
The relationship between a real estate agent and a home
inspector is built on trust. The real estate agent knows the
market and typically what items the sellers and the buyers are
financially responsible for at closing. The agent understands
trends in specific regions when looking at the home inspection
report. They analyze the buyer's concerns and close the best
deal they can for their clients. A home inspector must know the
real estate business and pay attention to the details. Kevin
says, "...A home inspector must provide impeccable service and
do everything necessary to educate the real estate agent and the
buyer about the home." To learn more about real estate topics
such as renovations, homeowner's insurance or mortgages please
visit my website at
www.voncannonrealestate.com. For more
information on US Inspect‰ contact Kevin Salva at 888-US-INSPECT
or visit
www.usinspect.com.
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