Is there A Better Reason Than Saving Money For Skipping A Home Inspection
Did you know that white picket fences are one of the most common symbols of a settled life? In fact, many homeowners feel validated once they buy their home and become owners of the white picket fence. After all, it is one major thing checked off their lifetime bucket list.
Are you in the process of purchasing a home and looking for ways to save money? Recent research showed buyers in the process of buying their first home are looking for things they might be able to waive to save a few hundred dollars.
The cost of home inspections has risen in recent years due to inflation. We found this as a reason why many homeowners waive this inspection altogether and instead purchase a home warranty from their lender or insurance company. What’s more, in our recent survey, ⅖ homeowners who recently purchased a home complained about home inspection prices, and 35% said they had ended up buying an expensive home.
The importance of home inspections has been underestimated for a long time; this is either because buyers are not informed about its benefits or are, at times, utterly unaware that getting an inspection done is an integral part of the inspection process. A home inspection does chip a few hundred dollars off your home budget, but many people don’t realize that the good it does to them is unaccounted for in the long run. So for those who don’t know, what is a home inspection?
What Is A Home Inspection?
A home inspection is a process of assessing the condition of a property, typically by an inspector who is a professional in this field. A home inspection aims to find any problems that need addressing before you buy or sell a property. The inspector will ensure no hidden issues with your property before you sign the dotted line.
Inspectors will assess the property’s condition and look for water damage, termite infestation, mold, etc. They will also check if the property is maintained and if there are any safety hazards like gas leaks or electric wiring issues. Overall, an inspection involves assessing 1600 parts of a home. These parts make up more major systems in a house, such as the HVAC, plumbing, or electrical system.
Home inspections are crucial for all real estate transactions and give transparency to all parties involved. A home inspection is not mandatory or required by law in any US state but is recommended before you buy or sell your house, as it can save you from costly repairs down the line. The benefit of an inspection for a buyer, seller, or even an existing homeowner is another topic that we shall cover in another article.
Why Should You Never Skip An Inspection?
Skipping an inspection is not worth it. It may cost you more if you don’t get the repairs done in time, and it also puts your home at risk. The most common chances are mold and water damage. But there are other risks, such as electrical, structural, and fire hazards. You can prevent some of the risks by getting an inspection done on your home before the problem gets worse.
Here are just five of the reasons you should not skip an inspection:
Your Safety Comes First
The inspector assesses thousands of components of a house to identify minor to severe issues. Radon, mold, and fire hazards are just a few of the problems that inspectors can help you with.
If you’re looking for a way to improve safety in your home and reduce the risk of accidents, then an inspection might be suitable for you. The risk of opting out of a review is that your family could be in danger.
Negotiation Tool
An Inspection Report is a report that presents a list of requested repairs, deductions, and other things the seller can do to make the property more attractive to buyers.
The Inspection Report has become a valuable tool for negotiating with sellers in today’s market. It allows the buyer to efficiently make their case and negotiate what they need with the seller.
The buyer should not forego negotiations; they can present an Inspection Report that is comprehensive enough to showcase what they want from the seller.
Inspection Contingency
When you make an offer contingent on a home inspection, you give yourself an out in case unforeseen maintenance, repairs, or safety issues arise.
It’s important to know that if you decide to cancel the contract due to the problems detected in an inspection report and your offer is contingent on it, that’s your right. If the seller disagrees with your decision and tries to sue you for breaking the contract, you have an inspection contingency to save you.
Inspection reports are helpful for buyers who want peace of mind before making an offer on a property. They give them time and resources to find a new home if there are any problems with the one they’re considering buying.
Budgeting Tool
The inspection report is a roadmap that will help you assess the financial needs of the home you are considering buying. Potential buyers can use it to make an informed decision on whether they want to purchase the house or not.
This report helps determine if your budget for renovations and repairs will cover what needs to be done and how much it will cost. This is vital for those planning to buy a property without any idea what it would take for repairs and renovations.
Insurance companies don’t want to take on the unnecessary liability. They like to see proof that a house is in reasonably good condition before they will provide homeowner’s insurance.
If you have an inspection report showing that your home is in good condition, then you can use this as evidence when you apply for your homeowner’s insurance.
The Cost to Skip the Inspection – In The Long Term and On Your Wallet!
The cost to skip the inspection is a trade-off that you might be thinking of making to save on the overall cost of your purchase. However, if you’re not careful with each decision you take during the home buying process, you could pay more in the long run.
Many people are skipping inspections these days, thinking they are saving money. But this comes at a problematic risk for some people to handle – it is similar to the risk of having a vehicle with hidden mechanical issues and unexpected repairs later on down the line. That sounds appealing, but I’m sure not!
If you’re thinking about skipping an inspection, sit back and wait and think again.