1. A Way Out

By the time you’ve gotten to the home-inspection, your potential home is under contract. Your proposal has been accepted and you’ve paid your earnest money. A home inspection could reveal whether you’re about to purchase the home of your dreams or a money pit! If a house fails inspection, the buyer can back out of the deal and receive a refund.

2. A Way to Negotiate

If you still want to go through with the purchase, you may now be able to use it as a negotiating tool. Depending on what issues were found, you could ask the seller for repairs or a price reduction. Without the home inspection, you might end up paying more than you should or unknowingly buying a house that needs major repairs from the outset.

3. Ensure Safety

In addition to saving you money, a home inspection also ensures that the house is safe. Electrical wiring can be a fire hazard in old homes, radon may be high in the surrounding soil, or the basement might be infested with poisonous mold. An inspection can check for all these dangers. Check with your realtor to make sure that your contract allows you to back out if the inspection fails on one of these safety points.

4. Insurance

Some insurances may not cover a home with certain issues. You will want to check with your insurance company to determine what those factors may be. Then have your home inspector look specifically for those conditions verify that you won’t have any issues when it comes time to insure your home.

5. Know What You're Buying

The major reason for doing a home inspection is to know what you’re getting into. It reveals any potential dangers or expensive repairs. Is the heat pump 15 years old and on the fritz? Is the electrical up to code? Does the basement flood? A home inspector can help answer all these questions and give you peace of mind when you buy. Don’t overlook the importance of getting a home inspection! It might just save you a lot of time, money, and heartache in the future.