What you need to know about home inspection as a new buyer

If you’re planning to buy a new home, it’s important to get a handle on the home inspection process so you can get the most out of your investment.

At the end of the day, properties aren’t perfect. Countless reports of poor quality housing catch both tenants and homeowners out, so having an awareness of costly issues such as damp, mould, leaks or even subsistence means you could avoid being caught out. The last thing you want is to be caught out with a property that has the potential to cause issues expensive repairs or even poor health in the long run.

It’s important to understand not only the benefits of home inspections but also how you can find the best home inspector for the job. Here’s what you need to know.

What is a home inspection and why it’s important?

A home inspection is essentially a buyer’s final opportunity to assess a property and uncover any issues before the process is completed. Even if you’re looking at buying a new build property, it’s important to ensure it has been thoroughly checked.

On the flip side, the seller can explain anything that is raised. It might be that a new price is negotiated – this can only be the case if they have a home inspection contingency in their purchase agreement.

Hiring a home inspector

You’ll need to hire a professional home inspector – someone who knows exactly what they’re looking for and who won’t leave out any crucial checks. 

Home inspection reports can cost around £100 but it can be more depending on where the property is based and also the size of the property that’s due to be inspected. Some quotes will be higher or lower than that based on the experience of those carrying out the inspections. While it may be tempting to save money during the already costly process of buying a house, you’ll thank yourself for spending a little more for a good quality home inspection. 

What happens during an inspection and how it can benefit you? 

Generally, the following is checked during a home inspection:

• Interior: This involves checking for cracks and any damage to walls, windows, doors and other features within the home. 
• Exterior: Again, the walls are checked for cracks and the roof is checked for any damage, including cracked or missing tiles. Large-scale roofing repairs can be extremely expensive, which is why it’s important to ensure that any smaller issues can be repaired before they become more extensive.
• Electrics: All the outlets will be tested and the electrical panel will be examined. The condition of the light fittings will also be checked.
• Plumbing: Alongside checking for physical leaks, this stage involves examining anything relating to water in the home, such as shower heads and toilets. Sometimes, exposed pipes can be discovered.

Inspectors will also check fire safety by testing smoke detectors and assessing whether there are any other hazards. It’s important to be present when the inspection takes place so that you can ask questions and witness issues for yourself in case they are lost in translation, rather than relying solely on the report.

A key benefit of a home inspection as a buyer is that it can give you leeway to renegotiate the price. If something crops up in the inspection, you’re within your right to discuss a fairer route to go down. House inspections also identify safety risks that might otherwise go unnoticed, plus they can be beneficial when it comes to securing your home insurance. Ultimately, house inspections can help you save time and money when buying a property.