Buying your first home is a monumental moment in your life. It’s the culmination of a lot of hard work, stress, and hopefully some excitement along the way. It’s something that you should be very proud about. Over the last ten years, homeownership – particularly in young adults – has declined more than ten percent. Numbers aside, once you’ve signed on the dotted line, there’s still a bit of work to do. That’s why, today we’re partnering with Restumping Melbourne, a company dedicated to ensuring that the foundation under your home is rock solid. We’re covering off on best practices for your home inspection.
A comprehensive home inspection is absolutely vital for any homeowner. It’s your only out, should you find thousands of dollars in damages, or months’ worth of renovations ahead. It’s your opportunity to determine exactly how much it will cost to be move-in ready, and if there are any red flags that you should know about.
So, first things first, how do you go about finding a good home inspector? Here’s an opportunity to rely on your network of friends and family. Referrals are the best way to know that the person that you’ll be working with is trustworthy and transparent. Conversely, if you’ve found a home inspector on the Web and you hear poor reviews, you know to stay clear. We’d also recommend checking the resources of your state housing authority. This is how you’ll know that your inspector is accredited.
Once you’ve identified your home inspector of choice, make sure that you ask them the tough questions. You need to know cost upfront, and if he or she offers payment options. You need to know at least a ballpark of how long the inspection will take. One item of note- you need to factor in the time that any test results take. The home inspection itself is only half the fun.
Do your homework before the day of. It’s best to be in the vicinity of the inspection, but not underfoot. This way you can keep an eye on the work and ask any questions that you may have. Here are a few key questions to keep in mind:
- Is the foundation strong?
- Is the rear deck up to code?
- Does the roof leak?
- Does the wiring need to be updated?
You should also come prepared with the dollar amount that you’re willing to spend on any updates or repairs. Both wiring and plumbing come with hefty renovation costs, however minor structural damage like installing a support beam or updating the bathroom plumbing, may be more in your “do it yourself” arena.
The bottom line is that you want to leave the home inspection feeling safe and secure in your decision to move forwards with the purchase. Armed with the right knowledge and mindset, you’ll be set up for success. Reach out to the Inspect East team with any questions, and be sure to check out the Restumping Melbourne site for more helpful foundation information.