hould you do your own all the building trades, as
pre-purchase inspection? useful as this would be. Just use
Yes and no. Yes, you should what you do know, and make a note
inspect a house before you write if something looks "odd" or
an offer on it. Then you should "smells funny." Afterwards, you
put an inspection contingency can have a professional inspector
clause in the offer, and hire a take a closer look.
professional inspector. Why do
both? Pay for a professional
pre-purchase inspection. Unless
Doing your own inspection can you really know a lot, it can
help you get a better deal. Each save your neck financially. An
cracked window or leaky toilet acquaintance of mine just
you can find is a negotiating discovered that the house he made
point. You see, you could just an offer on was almost beyond
make a low offer, but a seller is hope, because their was so much
more likely to accept your offer termite and other damage. He
if you have reasons for it being backed out of the deal, and
lower. In fact, you should attach considering the tens of thousands
a list of your concerns to the of damage he hadn't planned on, I
offer, as an explanation and don't think he's regretting the
justification for your price. $300 he spent on inspections.
Use a list as you walk through Do a walk-through inspection
the house. Using a home yourself, by all means. Just also
inspection checklist keeps you put that clause in the contract
from forgetting things. You don't allowing you to have professional
have to know the difference inspections too. Now, how do you
between 12-gauge and 14-gauge choose the right person to do the
wiring, or become an expert on inspections? Carefully.
experience with everything from
Pre-Purchase Inspection - electrical work to roofing to
Choosing An Inspector plumbing and more.
For specific inspections that are You want to know what is wrong,
customary in your area, you can but you also want to know what it
rely on most reputable companies. will cost to fix these problems.
Termite inspections are the norm Not all inspectors will have that
here in Tucson, for example, and information for you. Ask if they
it's cheap to get one done by a can give you estimates for
pest control company (they hope repairing any problem they find,
to get the job if there are even if only in the form of a
termites to be eradicated). If range of the possible cost. You
the roof has obvious problems, may be re-negotiating the price
you can get a roofer to take a based on his findings. You could
look and give you an itemized call in contractors to get quotes
quote. on big problems, but you need to
at least know which are big
For general pre-purchase problems, and a good inspector
inspections, though, it isn't as should be able to tell you.
easy to hire the right person. In
many states it is relatively easy To sum up: Do your own
to get licensed for general home walk-through inspection, then
inspection. What you really want, hire a professional. Ask about
though, is not someone that read their experience. Ask if they can
the right books and passed a note estimated costs next to
test, but an inspector with real problems found. If you want to
life experience. Ideally, you learn more, ask if maybe you can
want a former builder or tag along for the inspection. Do
tradesman that has real these things and you'll have a
thorough pre-purchase inspection.
About the Author:
Steve Gillman has invested in real estate for years. To learn more, get a free real estate investing course, and see a photo of a beautiful house he and his wife bought for $17,500, visit http://www.HousesUnderFiftyThousand.com
Source: www.isnare.com
