Whether you’re buying a home or already have one, an inspection provides many benefits for your investment. A house is one of the biggest investments a person can make. As such, an inspection is the best way to make sure your purchase is sound. An insurance company will usually require an inspection before underwriting. Even if they don’t, however, it can save you a lot of money.
A home inspection is a roof-to-ground examination of a home. The inspection covers the house’s plumbing, electrical system, structure, roof, HVAC, insulation, and ventilation following a strict standard of practice. The International Association of Certified home Inspectors has developed a robust standard of practice for home inspections in the US. Your home inspector is also able to give you recommendations related to appliances and other health and safety tips. There’s so many benefits hiring a home inspector as he or she can spot faults and possible dangers that you never thought were there.
The return on investment for a home inspection is more than worth it. According to the American Society of Home Inspectors, more than 70 percent of homeowners found an inspection to be helpful. An inspection is the best way to find any issues with the house and how serious or costly they would be. You might spot some of the problems, but a trained, experienced professional can be thorough. This way you can assess the full situation and plan accordingly.
If You’re Buying a Home
Buying a house and need to get homeowners insurance? Your insurer will probably require an inspection before selling you a policy. They will want to know the overall condition of your home to assess the risk they’re investing in. The inspection gives them the overview they need to insure you for the correct amount.
Where insurance is concerned, having the inspection done is a benefit to you as well as your insurer. The inspector can let you know what parts of the house can get you a discount on your homeowners’ insurance. Do you have a brand-new roof or electrical system? They’re going to be less of a risk and probably can save you some money. Furthermore, an inspection will help make sure that your coverage reflects your insured dwelling value. Buying too much insurance is a waste of money. Having too little insurance can cost you even more money.
An inspection is good to have for negotiations with the seller as well. If the inspection points out problems, the seller can credit you on the cost of the house or make repairs before closing. If the inspection shows the house to be in very poor shape, you will know if it’s wise to walk away altogether.
If You Already Own a Home
If you’ve owned your house for a while and haven’t had an inspection in that time, getting a home maintenance inspection can be invaluable. It will give you the current state of your house and let you know when you need to make necessary repairs or replacements.
A final inspection report is a great “owner’s manual” for your house in this regard. It can provide great data to take to your insurer and see what discounts there are for updates you’ve done in that time.
So, if you’re a homeowner or soon will be, a home inspection will give you peace of mind on your purchase. It’s a small amount to pay compared to being unaware of expensive upkeep and upgrades that need to be done.
Aaron M. Zuehlke is the owner and inspector at Zuehlke Inspection Service, LLC, a full-service home inspection company serving Southern Wisconsin. Specializing in Home inspection, Radon Testing, and Residential Thermal Imaging.
If you have a home inspection or home maintenance related topic you’d like to read about please send your suggestion to me via email at Aaron@ZuehlkeInspections.com