Arranging for a home inspection has become a crucial and common element in the home-buying process. People view the home inspection as a kind of protection or insurance policy that will save them from inadvertently getting stuck with a money pit. The fee is a modest outlay compared to the tens of thousands one could potentially have to pay for major structural repairs.

But a home inspection can also bring home buyers savings in other ways, such as through long-term peace of mind and through helping them to preserve their capital while living in the house. This greater savings is achieved because, even though the assessment is of the prospective house\’s current condition or state, it helps to familiarize the buyers with the property in all its intricacies, thereby giving them a good sense or expectation of how conditions are likely to change in the future.

Think of the home inspection cost as more than just a necessary expense. Think of it as an investment one makes to learn how to care for the dwelling properly and maintain it in working condition. The inspection itself is a snapshot of the condition on that day, not unlike a physical checkup. It comprises a complete examination of all house systems and their components, and from it the inspector renders an opinion of how everything should fare down the road.

To ensure thoroughness, the inspector works from an extensive checklist. He tests the heating, cooling, plumbing, and electrical systems for serviceability. He checks the structural integrity of sub-floor, foundation, deck/porch, and roof. He operates windows and doors to determine their functionality. He scours the whole house, from attic to crawlspace, from kitchen to garage, looking for potential safety hazards and a host of other issues. The information contained in his resulting report may end up saving the client both headaches and money.

Perhaps the most important aspect of the home inspection to take into consideration is whether or not a structural pest inspection is included. (Some states require an additional license for this feature.) Infestations of termites, carpenter ants, and other wood-destroying insects or organisms indicate potentially significant structural damage to wooden support members. Hire an inspector who not only can point out moisture-saturated wood and other conditions that attract insects, but who is also trained to identify species and knows how to uncover often hard-to-find infestation evidence.

Here\’s another, more commonly occurring example of ways the home inspection saves buyers money. Imagine a deck, the support for which comes from wooden posts mounted on concrete footings and attachment of one side to the house. The deck is supposed to withstand both vertical (mostly downward, but also upward, such as from wind) and lateral forces that are applied to it, whether empty or fully populated. If it appears that it won\’t withstand these forces (e.g., the ledger board is attached to the house with nails or screws instead of with through bolts or lag bolts), the inspector will cite a safety concern in his inspection report. Thus, rather than the buyer having to correct the problem, the onus is upon the seller, where it belongs.

John W. Gordon is a licensed home inspector also qualified to conduct pest inspections. His business, Dr. Inspector, is based in Bellingham, WA. John has a reputation for thoroughness, integrity, and a reasonable home inspection cost. His website is www.HomeInspectionWA.net.

John W. Gordon is a licensed home inspector also qualified to conduct pest inspections. His business, Dr. Inspector, is based in Bellingham, WA. John has a reputation for thoroughness, integrity, and a reasonable fee. His website is http://www.HomeInspectionWA.net.

Author Bio: John W. Gordon is a licensed home inspector also qualified to conduct pest inspections. His business, Dr. Inspector, is based in Bellingham, WA. John has a reputation for thoroughness, integrity, and a reasonable home inspection cost. His website is www.HomeInspectionWA.net.

Category: Home Management
Keywords: home inspection, home inspector, pest inspection, home buyer, inspection cost, inspection report