Before you purchase a home, you will want to have it inspected thoroughly and inspections usually commence in the first week of the escrow process. This provides you with time to learn about potential problems with your new home and to make decisions regarding these problems. There are several different kinds of home inspections that you might want to consider.
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.
While this home inspection is very important, it certainly is not the only inspection to consider. Termites are a huge problem in many areas of the country, and pests in general can damage your home. It is wise to have a termite inspector come out and look for evidence of termite damage or droppings, as well as damage from other 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.
When you live in an area where the ground tends to be unstable or prone to seismic events, a geologist is another good person to hire. Even if earthquakes don't occur in your area, different types of soil affect the settlement of your home and if you know that the area has had a problem or two, it is wise to get an evaluation. Also if the home has many settlement cracks or floors seem to slope oddly, it can be a good idea to have an inspector take a look.
Often, your realtor can some suggest some excellent inspectors, and they also often know a variety of contractors and service people that can help with any necessary repairs. If you are getting ready to purchase real estate in Fredericksburg or any Texas Hill Country real estate, contact the experts at Nixon Real Estate today.
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.
While this home inspection is very important, it certainly is not the only inspection to consider. Termites are a huge problem in many areas of the country, and pests in general can damage your home. It is wise to have a termite inspector come out and look for evidence of termite damage or droppings, as well as damage from other 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.
When you live in an area where the ground tends to be unstable or prone to seismic events, a geologist is another good person to hire. Even if earthquakes don't occur in your area, different types of soil affect the settlement of your home and if you know that the area has had a problem or two, it is wise to get an evaluation. Also if the home has many settlement cracks or floors seem to slope oddly, it can be a good idea to have an inspector take a look.
Often, your realtor can some suggest some excellent inspectors, and they also often know a variety of contractors and service people that can help with any necessary repairs. If you are getting ready to purchase real estate in Fredericksburg or any Texas Hill Country real estate, contact the experts at Nixon Real Estate today.
About the Author:
Pammy McGrath enjoys reading about real estate blogs. If you are searching for licensed real estate Fredericksburg TX agents, or to find a Fredericksburg Texas homes for sale, please go to the Nixon Real Estate site today.
