The Importance of Home Inspections

Don't buy Springfield, Illinois real estate without demanding a home inspection! If you are in the market to buy a home, the importance of home inspections cannot be stressed enough. Many homeowners are thrilled with the aesthetics of a home, only to get moved in and find that the plumbing system needs a major overhaul, or the roof is leaking in several places. These are just two scenarios that oftentimes occur when buying a home. There is a myriad of things that can be wrong with a home that do not become clear until you are actually living in it. By having the home inspected, you can get a better idea of any problems or issues that the home has, and hopefully negotiate with the seller to correct the problem, sometimes when making your offer, other times as a contingency in your contract.

Home Inspection 101

When buying a Springfield, IL home for sale, the home inspection usually involves an inspection of the home's HVAC system, electrical system, roof, interior plumbing, attic, walls, floors, ceilings, insulation, windows, basement, and foundation. Some inspections may also include outdoor plumbing and appliances. The cost of the inspection will vary, based on the size of the home, the area where the home is located, and the services that the inspector provides. Once the investigation is complete, the inspector will submit an inspection report to whoever is paying for the home inspection. The inspection report is an important real estate document, since it will detail and describe the home, and is official documentation of the condition of the home when sold.

If You Are the Homebuyer

We at Fulgenzi and Company encourage every homebuyer, to arrange to be there when the home is inspected, if at all possible. This will give you a chance to ask the inspector any questions that you have about the home and maintenance of the home. Being present for the inspection will also afford you the opportunity to discuss any problems that the inspector finds. In your purchase agreement, you should include a proper home inspection contingency. If you are working with a Springfield, Illinois real estate agent, he or she should see that this is included. If the inspection unearths any major problems, you can oftentimes negotiate to lower the purchase price or to have the problem fixed before you decide to sign on the dotted line at closing. If the seller does not negotiate for repairs or a lower price, then you have the option to rescind any offer that is on the table.

If Your Are the Home Seller

The home inspection is not only important to the buyer in a Springfield, Illinois real estate transaction. It is also important to the seller. After all, accurately disclosing the home's problems (even those that you might not be aware of) is important to protect yourself from any liability issues of claims of non-disclosure from the purchaser. If you are putting your home up for sell, you can avoid any surprise problems by getting the home inspected beforehand. That way, you can opt to have any needed repairs made, using whichever contractor that you choose, with no need to satisfy a potential home buyer. You can also elect to just disclose the problems that the home has, and let the buyer know what you will or will not repair. There many issues to consider when thinking of buying a home for sale in Springfield, IL but a professional ethical Realtor should be able to easily walk you through the process.

It is important for both seller and buyer to note, however, that home inspections are not to be misconstrued as a guarantee or warranty on the home. The inspection of the home is only as good as the inspector himself (or herself).