The home-buying process is simply not complete without a home inspection. Included in the many benefits a home inspection offers are finding out what type of systems and components exist within the home you’re buying, determining the condition of these systems and components, understanding how the systems and structural components of your new home function, and learning how to maintain your new home.
Home buyers can never be too proactive about knowing the true condition of their new home. Buying a home is too large of a purchase to not check all of the boxes during the process. A home inspection allows buyers to confidently make the decision to purchase a home, with full knowledge of the systems of the house.
When Does the Home Inspection Happen?
There are a lot of moving parts during the home buying process, so novice home buyers might wonder when the home inspection occurs during this timeline. Home inspections happen after the sellers accept the offer, but before the closing. Buyers and sellers might need time to negotiate over inspection findings, so scheduling an inspection as soon as the offer is accepted is common for home buyers.
10 Home Inspection Tips for Home Buyers
Get the most out of your home inspection by preparing for it. As your trusted local Harrisburg and Lebanon home inspectors, we offer these valuable tips for home buyers.
- Choose the Right Home Inspectors
Choosing the right team of home inspectors is one of the best ways to ensure your inspection goes as efficiently and smoothly as possible. Dan and Scott Ayers from HouseMaster Harrisburg and Lebanon have extensive training and certifications. They’re also tested annually to meet the industry standards of continuing education, inspection, reporting, and customer service.
- Attend the Inspection
Attending the inspection is optional but it’s a good idea to attend it in person and on time. You will have the opportunity to read the inspection report when it’s completed, however, it’s easier to understand the contents of the report if you see the inspection in real time. The buyers also have the ability to ask about any concerns with a knowledgeable and experience home inspector while there.
- Don’t Be Afraid to Ask Questions
With that said, don’t be afraid to ask our Harrisburg home inspectors questions while at the home inspection. Before the inspector leaves, set out a block of time to go over any questions or concerns about their findings.
- Let the Inspectors Work Their Magic
Although we welcome questions, we also ask buyers to let our home inspectors do their job with minimal interruptions. There will be time to ask questions, and we’re happy to answer any questions or concerns about the house during that time.
- Put It In Writing
Work with your real estate agent to make the home inspection official instead of notifying the sellers verbally that the inspection is being completed. Have your agent put it in the contract as a contingency clause so that you can opt out of the contract if an issue is discovered in the inspection, and the seller does not agree to your terms when negotiating about repairs.
- Take Advantage of Specialty Home Inspections
As local residents, your Harrisburg home inspectors understand the unique issues potential home buyers can face during a home inspection, including the prevalence of termites and radon in the area. Because oft his, Radon Inspections, Water Inspections, Termite Inspections and Mold inspections are all offered at a discount when ordered with a home inspection to ensure safety and complete coverage.
- Know When to Ask Seller for Repairs
It’s not typical for the seller to agree to fix every item the buyer asks them to. Real estate agents help buyers determine which items to ask the seller to fix, typically larger items on the home inspection report that were not included in the seller’s disclosures. Minor repairs aren’t always worth asking the sellers to repair, some items are considered normal wear and tear.
- Discuss Seller Disclosures
Pay attention to the seller disclosures and review them before the inspection day arrives. When discussing these disclosures with your Harrisburg home inspectors, we can offer our advice on repairs and plans for the next steps going forward to address going about these repairs.
- Don’t Rush It
Home inspections take time because the home inspector is undergoing a thorough review of the home. Block out two to three hours of your day for the inspection, and don’t rush it. In order for our home inspectors to be as precise as possible, they need to dedicate time to do their best assessment.
- Don’t Skip the Home Inspection
Some buyers, especially those that are buying new construction homes, consider opting out of the home inspection. This can be a crucial mistake and cost home buyers money in the long-term.
HouseMaster Serving Harrisburg and Lebanon Home Inspections Benefit Buyers and Sellers
Home inspections protect all parties and benefit both the home buyers and the home sellers. Home buyers can learn the true condition of the property they want to buy and can negotiate with confidence, while home sellers can get better negotiating leverage with full knowledge of any problems with the house. A pre-inspection can attract more buyers to a home that’s already been inspected because all the cards are laid out on the table, and sufficient time has been given to make fixes found on the report.
Harrisburg home inspectors Dan Ayers and Scott Ayers, like all HouseMaster home inspectors, have extensive training and certifications and are tested annually to meet the industry standards of continuing education, inspection, reporting, and customer service. As part of the oldest and most trusted nationwide home inspection business, Dan and Scott have been able to put their decade long experience in fire and water property restoration and their passion for customer service to good use in the professional home inspection process. Request an inspection today!
