When buying a house as a first-time homeowner, finding the right home for your family can take a lot of time. When you finally find the home of your dreams, you may want to give this home a thorough inspection. However, you may want to leave an inspection to a licensed home inspector.
A home inspector can review the quality of a home and identify weak points. An inspector may find serious damage to a home that would cost a fortune to repair. You may not have the time or resources to turn a fixer-upper into a livable and secure home. In other words, hiring a home inspector could protect your family financially. Here is what a home inspector may find:
How a home inspector can prevent you from buying a fixer-upper
There are several key points in a home that an inspector will examine during an inspection. An inspection can cover the following:
- Roof damage: A roof may have been left in disrepair for many years. This can lead to weathering, leaks and infestation. Even a small issue with a roof can lead to many issues for a home.
- Water damage: An inspector may look for any signs of water damage. Water damage can come from leaks in walls, flooding history, leaky pipes or plumbing issues. Water damage can lead to mold, which could be harmful to families.
- Foundation issues: A home may have suffered damage that affects the foundation. Support beams may be damaged or the ground may have eroded for example.
- Electrical issues: An inspector may find do-it-yourself or poorly done electrical work in a home. An electrical issue could lead to fires if left unrepaired.
Sometimes, even with a home inspection, you can end up in a dispute over a real estate deal – especially if there were issues that were purposefully hidden or the inspector made a mistake. In those situations, it may be wise to seek early legal guidance.