Home Inspections 101: What Every Fargo-Moorhead Buyer Should Know

Home inspections can feel like preparing for a final exam, but they don't need to be as anxiety-ridden as people often make them out to be. Here's why.

What is a Home Inspection?

A home inspection is simply a tool, not a test.

There's no pass or fail, except from the buyer. The buyer can pass on the home, renegotiate, or buy a house as-is, knowing its potential for future issues.

An inspection intends to look for any potential problems or defects that might arise and are all about protection for the mortgage lenders, the home buyers, and even the sellers.

Although home inspections aren't required when buying or selling a home, they make good sense. Just as you wouldn't want to buy a car without a mechanic inspecting it first, if you don't have the expertise to spot potential costly repairs, you should rely on the experts who do.

5 Home Inspection Tips to Keep in Mind

1. Know when to schedule your home inspection.

The best time to schedule your home inspection is immediately after the seller accepts your offer but before you close on the house. Urgency is essential because it gives you the time to renegotiate, if necessary.

2. Know the 'Top Five.'

As a buyer or a seller, you need to be aware of the top five most important areas of a home inspection.

1. Roof – How soon will it need to be replaced? Are there nearby trees that could cause damage or give unwanted critters easy access?
2. Water – Whether inside or outside of the home, signs of leaks and water damage should be at the top of everyone's list to keep an eye out for.
3. Foundation – Foundation repairs can be costly and often come from unseen issues, such as tree roots.
4. Appliances - Think bigger than kitchen appliances here; you want to know the condition of things like the furnace, central air, garbage disposal, hot water heater, and more.
5. Signs of age – Overall, your inspector will look for signs of age to warn you of any potential future expenses you should be prepared for with your home purchase.

3. Know what questions to ask.

Finding the right inspector for the job is crucial.

That's why it's greatly to your benefit to work with a real estate agent who knows the home inspectors in your area well.

You'll also want to prepare a list of questions for the inspector, such as:

• What does the inspection cover?
• How many inspections have they performed?
• How long does the inspection take?
• When will the inspection report be ready?
• What is the cost of the inspection?
• Are they affiliated with the seller in any way? (Remember: the inspector works for the buyer, and you don't want a conflict of interest.)

4. Know your options.

Did you know you can attend the inspection if you'd like to see any problems for yourself?

Knowing your options will help you get everything you need from the inspection. Review any seller disclosures and have the inspector examine those areas to verify any repairs.

5. Understand what's NOT inspected.

Sometimes knowing what's NOT inspected is just as important as knowing what is.

Typically, a home inspection will not include items such as pools, hot tubs, tree health, sprinkler systems, septic tanks, wells, air quality (e.g., mold), chimneys, etc.

If these areas concern you, you should ask to be connected to a specialty inspector.

Trust the Experts

When you have inspection questions, trust the real estate agent with ten years of experience as a home inspector and make your next home purchase stress-free.

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