I don’t know about you but I dread having to go to the doctor or even think about it for that matter… having to put up with a whole lot of prodding and poking from head to toe and then endure the big sigh as he crosses his arms looks up at the ceiling and after all that he sits down for his diagnosis and writes out half a novel without saying a word.
You can be left in suspense, which seems like an eternity while he pens out all of his findings on his notepad. As I sit across the desk form him with my arms folded in the defence position. All of those fitness and health ads run through my head as think… mmm perhaps I should have done some more exercise and had a more healthy diet. A little voice says inside my head Don’t worry, he’s going to tell you all of that in minute anyway!”
When we are doing a property inspection, we can empathise with doctors knowing that more care should have been taken over the years of ownership. We seem to get the same response from people involved in the transaction. But I want to differentiate ourselves slightly, we don’t wear rubber gloves, we print our findings and if we see anything out of the ordinary we will communicate the best solution and refrain from telling you to go and get some exercise.
I suppose like the doctor, we’re just doing our job in order for people to have peace of mind, knowing that longevity is in their best interest. It’s getting into the habit that we all know we should be doing because if you don’t… it’s catches up on you!!
When you find a house that you have fallen in love with it is advisable to get it checked to see if there may be any defects that could cause you problems later on. House Inspections can save you money, money that you may have allocated for maintenance.
If you want to inspect the property yourself just make sure you have a checklist of all the important areas that may be of concern. You should start by breaking it down by interior and exterior and then their different components. Also don’t forget to check the plumbing and electrical connections individually to see that they are in good working order. If your not confident in this area it would be advisable to get in a professional at this point. A second opinion is always a good idea.
When you identify any defects the property might have, you can ask your agent if these have been factored into the price. If not then you may be able to negotiate with the sellers to rectify the problems. In most cases, anything that is obvious would have been picked up by the real estate agent.
If there are areas that you are not familiar with, it is a good idea to spend money on a full house inspection. As I mentioned before it is always wise to get a second opinion especially from a professional. Spending a small sum up front may save you much more later. It will give you peace of mind knowing you can always fall back on a professional opinion.
Learn more about House Inspections. Stop by Stephen Brien’s site where you can find out all about property inspection reports and what they can do for you.