About Home Inspections. Congratulations! You are about to become a homeowner. A home inspection is all that’s left between you and the closing deal. This part of the home buying process will help you uncover any defects the house might have.
Getting a home inspection is to find out if there are any major repairs in the Orlando real estate you plan to own. If you find the need for repairs, you can ask the seller to pay for them. If the seller lied about the house’s condition, you have full right to back out of the deal.
Here’s a list of all the things and areas that the inspector views:
- Heating system
- Interior plumbing
- Central air conditioner (Split system or packaged unit)
- Electrical systems
- Attic, including any visible insulation
- Roof
- Walls
- Floors
- Ceilings
- Windows and doors
- Basement
- Foundation
- Structural components
Now that you know what a home inspection covers, here are a few things you should know about the process:
Hire Someone You Can Trust
Your Orlando realtor will recommend plenty of home inspectors. However, we suggest that you do your research. This way, you will hire someone who is not only impartial but also talks to you freely about any potential issues.
Ask As Many Questions As You Want
A home inspector has a lot of knowledge about the evaluation process. Their job description entails telling a potential buyer if there are any major problems with the house and whether buying the property will be bad. So, if something doesn’t seem right to you about the house, ask right away and clear the doubts you have.
Ask the Home Inspector to Take Pictures
Let’s say that the seller claims that there are no problems in the house. However, the home inspector reveals an issue with the plumbing system. The damage seems to be located in the basement. Tell the home inspector to take pictures and show the seller you are not just making the problems up to lower the price. Thermal and infrared cameras will allow you to look beneath and behind floors, from where most of the damage originates. Ensure to hire a home inspector who uses this technology during the inspection.
Pay Attention to Cosmetic Fixes
New floors and freshly painted walls hide a story of holes and cracks. Look for spots that have been patched or repainted, and stand out.
Test GFCIs
The NEC mandates that GFCI protection is required, such as the laundry room, bathroom, and kitchen. Tell your home inspector to test these outlets. Non-working or malfunctioning outlets hint at electrical problems.
Forgoing a home inspection is one of a seller or buyer’s biggest mistakes. If the seller doesn’t address the issues, the deal will tank at some point, or the buyer will want to renegotiate the contract. If you don’t get the property inspected, you might get stuck with a house that requires repairs worth thousands of dollars.
To get in touch with a professional Dr. Phillips realtor and talk about what’s involved in the home buying process, visit the Megan Dowdy Realty website. For further information, call 407-509-9279.
