A home inspection isn’t just a checklist of your property’s condition; it’s a pivotal tool that can influence both your homeowners insurance and the appraisal value of your home. As a seller, you might suddenly discover your house isn’t valued as high as you thought it was worth. As a buyer, you might need to factor more money into your budget in case you end up with higher insurance premiums than expected. Either way, an inspection can affect your wallet in more ways than one. Let’s explore how home inspections impact insurance and appraisals.
[Read more…]6 Steps to Help a Seller Prepare for a Home Inspection
Many homeowners tend to get nervous at the thought of a home inspector going through their house with a fine-tooth comb, worrying that the inspector will find a major problem requiring costly repairs and delaying the sales process. Though the experience might seem daunting, with a little effort ahead of time, you as the home seller(s) can ensure everything goes smoothly—both for you and the inspector. Just follow this handy guide to help you prepare for a home inspection.
[Read more…]When Is a Home Inspection Required?
Believe it or not: home inspections usually aren’t mandatory. Yet, they still come highly recommended by real estate agents, banks, appraisers, and other professionals involved in the housing market. While your mortgage lender or local regulations might not deem a home inspection required, getting one is wise and often cost-effective for homeowners and buyers alike, as it can help them avoid significant financial losses and potentially deal-breaking issues with the house. Let’s explore some scenarios in which a home inspection is invaluable!
[Read more…]What Is a Home Seller’s Pre-Inspection?
As a home inspection company, we frequently write about buyers’ inspections on this blog. However, did you know that sellers have something to gain from getting a home inspection, too? That’s right. From identifying issues early on to standing firm in your asking price, let’s discuss what the benefits of a seller’s pre-inspection are.
[Read more…]Why You Shouldn’t Waive a Home Inspection
As a result of the hot housing market these past few years, potential buyers have often been in fierce competition with each other. Many have made offers tens of thousands of dollars over asking price, made all-cash offers, and waived the appraisal and/or home inspection contingencies to give them an edge in the seller’s market. As a home inspection company, we find the latter-most trend particularly troubling—but not just for business reasons. Let’s unpack why you shouldn’t waive a home inspection when purchasing a house.
[Read more…]What Home Inspectors Check Outside Your House For
When it comes to a home’s exterior, not everything is about curb appeal and cosmetics. Sure, the perfect paint color and a lush lawn will catch someone’s eye, but the outside of a house is about structure, functionality, and safety just as much as the inside is. And while the average home buyer can’t always see a house’s potential issues from driving by or walking through a showing, a proper home inspection can reveal things the naked eye misses. Today, we’re reviewing what home inspectors check outside of houses for.
[Read more…]Can I Perform My Own Home Inspection?
DIY projects—like re-staining furniture, building a bookshelf, or painting a wall—can be fun for the ambitious homeowners looking to save some cash. But when it comes to a home inspection, is that something you should try doing yourself? As a home inspection company, you can probably guess what our answer is going to be. But we’re going to tackle the question anyways! Let’s discuss whether a home buyer can and should perform their own home inspection.
Home Insulation: What an Inspector Looks For
Most New Englanders are familiar with insulation and its crucial role in a household’s climate. Put plainly, insulation is the stuff that helps keep our home environment cool in the summer and warm in the winter. But there’s much more to it than that. And since it’s such an essential element of a house, it is indeed something inspectors examine during a standard home inspection. So, let’s go over the ins and outs of home insulation and what an inspector looks for.
[Read more…]How Often Do I Need to Get My Septic Tank Pumped?
For many homeowners with septic tanks, it’s often something that’s “out of sight, out of mind.” But like many other things found in your house and on your property, a septic tank requires regular care and maintenance to keep it functioning properly. If not, you run the risk of health and safety hazards, raw sewage backup in your home, and very costly repairs. So, how often do you need to get a septic tank pumped? Let’s explore that question.
[Read more…]Issues That Must Be Fixed Before You Move in
Moving into your new home is so exciting, but it comes with a lot of responsibility. Once you meet with a home inspector, you will likely be presented with a list of problems and fixes that need to be made right away. Read over some of these home improvements that need to be made to ensure there aren’t any issues down the road.
[Read more…]