Although buying a home is an exciting experience, it also comes with tremendous stress. A recent study found that 40% of Americans feel buying a home is the most stressful event in life.
One of the most important steps in the home-buying process is the inspection. This helps determine the overall condition of a house. The results of your inspection can greatly influence price negotiations.
However, it’s not good enough to hire an inspector and let them take care of the inspection alone. You need to be there during the walkthrough.
If this seems overly cautious to you, keep reading. We’re going over six reasons you should be present during the house inspection.
1. You Can Learn More About the Home
Many buyers don’t fully inspect every little detail of a home before putting in an offer. Attending the official inspection presents a great opportunity to get a more in-depth look at the home you’re trying to buy.
An inspector will perform an extensive walkthrough, looking at appliances, cabinets, and electrical components. This is a great way for you to get to know where important elements, such as the breaker boxes, are in the home.
Attending the home inspection doesn’t only serve to expose what’s wrong with the home. It helps determine a property’s overall condition. This is the perfect chance for you to get a good sense whether this is the home for you.
Keep in mind that the inspector needs to perform a job. While it’s fine to accompany them, make sure you allow them the space they need to evaluate everything properly.
2. Have Your Questions Answered
Your inspector is a great person to ask questions of regarding the condition of specific parts of a home. While you have the opportunity to ask questions after the inspection, doing so during the process is much better.
When you witness the inspection personally, you’ll be able to ask questions on the spot. You’ll probably come up with questions you wouldn’t have thought of if you hadn’t been there.
This is a great way to get extra feedback about the house. You can inquire about the condition of certain appliances or other critical components. While your inspector can’t make any guarantees, they can certainly provide their opinion.
This information may affect the negotiation process and result in a better price. Use the inspection as an opportunity to learn as much as you can.
3. Get a Better Understanding of the Problems
When an inspector finishes examining a home, they complete an inspection report. This document details the condition of the home and notes all issues. However, this report is only a summary.
As a homebuyer, it’s your responsibility to understand the severity of each issue. Attending the inspection is the best way to do this. This gives you a much clearer idea of each problem then you’d get from reading a report.
This is why it’s important to pay close attention during the inspection process. You’ll come away with a much better understanding of the types of issues you’ll face if you decide to purchase the home.
A better understanding of the problems can also give you more leverage when negotiating the price. You may also consider talking to a professional regarding the issues to determine how costly the repairs would be.
4. Bring Issues to the Attention of the Inspector
Inspectors are certified and experienced when it comes to evaluating homes. However, that doesn’t mean something won’t go unnoticed.
When you attend the inspection yourself, this means you’re providing another set of eyes during the process. There’s a chance you may call attention to a problem the inspector didn’t spot.
It’s also possible your questions may uncover a potential problem. Minor details like slight discoloration on a wall or a crack under a window could indicate a bigger issue.
Feel free to speak up if you notice anything strange during the walkthrough. Just try to avoid getting too particular about every little thing. There’s a line between helping and distracting the inspector.
5. Make Sure You’re Getting a Good Deal
When you accompany the inspector during the process, you’re getting a firsthand account of the condition of the home. This will allow you to fully understand if the asking price is reasonable.
All the questions you ask and details you point out during the inspection may help uncover more problems. It’s very likely these issues will alter the price or give you room to negotiate.
You and the seller will receive a copy of the inspection report. This report will help determine the cost of repairs for current issues.
However, if you’re present during the inspection, you may have other issues you can bring up to the seller. This will help you get the best deal possible.
Furthermore, attending the inspection gives you the opportunity to make sure the inspector does a thorough job.
6. Understand the Report
If you’re there during the inspection, you’ll fully understand the points made in the report. This is important when making your final decision on a house.
Having a clear understanding of the report may allow you to bring up additional points during the negotiation process. Don’t be afraid to go further into detail about some of the problems listed in the report when talking to the seller.
After the inspection is over, ask the inspector to explain what the report will contain. It doesn’t hurt to get an idea of what you can expect.
If it helps, take some notes of your own regarding the report. Remember, any additional information you have may help when negotiating for a lower price.
Be There During Your House Inspection
When buying a home, it’s crucial you have all your bases covered. This starts by understanding the exact condition of the house you’re interested in.
Instead of scheduling a house inspection and waiting on the report, attend the walkthrough yourself. You’ll benefit from the points discussed above.
We provide experienced home inspections in the North East Ohio area. Schedule an inspection today.