What to inspect in a house that we want to buy?

Buying a home will always be an important commitment for your personal finances. Therefore, you cannot leave anything to chance or settle for incomplete information about the property that will be your home. On this occasion, we will evaluate what you should inspect before buying a house.

How the Home Inspection Process Works?

A home inspection represents an opportunity for you to hire an expert to guide you through the process.

In addition to indicating the possible defects of the house, he will be in charge of preparing the report on the current conditions of the facilities, what needs immediate repair or what will require maintenance later.

The importance of the inspection lies in what it can do for the buyer. It tells you in a concrete way the level of care that the property has received during the owners' stay since its occupation or construction.

If you are not satisfied with the general condition of the house, you can ask for a reduction or ask the owner to take care of the repairs to make the sale.

How do you hire a home inspector?

Before moving on to critical inspections of the home you want to buy, you need to find a home inspector.

Whether it is recommended by a realtor, a friend, or you look it up in a directory, ask them for a sample report to see how it works. This is to know what it includes, the clarity of its observations and the notes it makes.

As a general rule, the sales contract should include a clause on this procedure that indicates how many days you have to carry out the inspection.

Depending on how the market is moving in the chosen area, one of 2 things can happen: the properties sell quickly, giving you a few days; properties are taking, giving you a week or more.

Our recommendation is that you seek an expert before receiving mortgage approval. So you don't waste time once you have the money in hand and you are ready to make an offer.

Remember that good home inspectors are often in high demand, especially during the spring when real estate sales are busiest.

How much does a home inspection cost?

In Australia, the average cost of an inspection is around $ 450- $ 600 depending on the size of the property and its location.

On the other hand, you will need an additional budget in case the expert finds other problems, such as mold, asbestos or illegal construction. Ask the owner if they give you more time to investigate these incidents.

Inspections to do before buying a home

Beyond the basic documents, such as property deeds or possible debts, we will pay attention to the physical inspection of the property.

The great advantage of this process is that it allows you to make a more informed decision so that you can decide whether to take care of the arrangements or choose to request a price discount.

Home inspection with professional

The home inspector will be in charge of giving you a clearer idea about the defects that the house could present, possible future expenses and the most appropriate solutions. These professionals are responsible for reviewing:

• Land. This includes the condition of the drain, the septic tank leak (if any), and the condition of the fences, sidewalks, and driveway.
• Structure. Window alignment, property slope, signs of subsidence, and exposed foundation are considered here.
• Security. This review considers the state of railings, handrails, stairs and the operation of sprinklers and carbon monoxide and fire alarms.
• Pipes. The internal check includes the temperature of hot water, leaks or damage to pipes and function of toilets, sinks, bathtubs and showers.
• Electrical system. The expert assesses the condition of the fuse box, lamps, fans, sockets and how the wiring looks.
• Heating and cooling. The check includes the operation of the boiler, the AC, the chimney and the radiator.
• Ceiling. Repairs to flat roofs, condition of tiles, chimney failures, operational gutters, and clean breathers are considered.
• Basement. This examination addresses leaks or damage to floors, foundations, and walls.

Keep in mind that the properties could have one or another defect and an inspector can tell you which ones you should attend to most urgently. So ask any questions you have.

And if there are paint problems with lead, asbestos, radon, mold, foundations or pests, we suggest that you consult a home inspection specialists in these matters. The inspection of your next home should not be taken lightly and you should try to have every detail under control to make your investment worthwhile.