Before you close on a house you are planning to purchase, it’s extremely important to have a professional home inspection. Home inspectors are trained to look for a variety of problems, including water leaks, foundation issues, electrical problems, and other things that could lead to necessary repairs in the future.
What questions to ask your home inspector
As a general rule, either you or the seller will pay a few hundred dollars for a home inspection. Your real estate agents will negotiate whose responsibility it is to pay. On the day of your inspection, it’s a good idea to be armed with specific questions you want to ask. After all, this may be the only chance you get to speak to a professional home inspector before you close. Five of the most crucial inquiries you ought to make have been detailed below.
- How long have you been in this industry? – Because a home inspection is such an important part of the home buying process, it is critical to make sure you choose an experienced, trustworthy inspector. If you’ve done your research ahead of time, you should already know whether or not the home inspector you selected has a good reputation. This question, though, is still important, as it will give an idea of how many homes he or she has inspected over the years.
- Do you have a sample report I can view? – This question is especially important for first time home buyers who have never seen inspection reports before. Many reputable home inspectors have sample reports they use to explain various parts of the process to new clients. This can be very helpful on the day of your inspection and afterward as you review your own personal report.
- What will you be looking for? – Although there are certain things, like major foundation cracks, that all home inspectors look for, no two operate in exactly the same way. Due to this, it’s a good idea to talk to your home inspector about his or her process before you get started. This way, if he or she isn’t planning to look at an issue you are especially concerned about, you can bring it up ahead of time.
- If you were buying this house, what would you fix? – Although some problems have to be fixed because of city and state building codes, others are more a matter of preference. Asking your home inspector this question will help you understand what he or she would prioritize from a repair standpoint. This will help you figure out a reasonable budget for fixing various issues around your new house.
- Can you show me what the problem is? – Often, because home inspectors get in a groove while they are working, they take pictures and make notes about problems without giving their clients a play-by-play. This is perfectly fine, but if you have questions about a specific issue you see your home inspector checking out, ask him or her to explain it to you in greater detail. This will show him or her you’re really interested in understanding your house and it will help you deal with potential repairs more easily.
The idea of a home inspection can be a little bit daunting, especially for those who have never gone through the process in the past. Asking these questions, though, can make everything easier and can start a great conversation between you and your home inspector.
If you are ready to get a home inspector, contact MGA Home Inspections! We are here to work with you to make sure your home is what you expect it to be and to make sure when you move in, there are no unexpected problems! You can find out more about a home inspection on our website. Contact us with any questions or to book your inspection at 1 (978) 973 – 9783 or on our website!