There are few experiences more stressful than buying a home for the first time. Every year, over 5 million homes are purchased in the United States. If your finances are in good shape, then now is the time to realize your dream of owning a home. Once you find you’re forever home, you will need to work with a mortgage lender to secure funding.
Typically, the mortgage lender you choose will have a few stipulations when it comes to funding your loan. One of the main things more lenders want to see before funding a mortgage loan is a home inspection performed by professionals. Hiring professionals to perform an in-depth inspection is beneficial for many reasons that we will cover below.
A Great Way To Pinpoint Structural Problems
One of the main things you should be expecting from a home inspection is details about the structural components of the property. If the foundation of a home is damaged, then it will make the structure extremely unsafe. When conducting an inspection, a professional will check a number of structural components.
If things like foundational cracks are discovered, you need to reconsider buying the home in question. Even small foundation cracks can create big problems over time. Eventually, these structural components will cause large cracks in the walls of a home and issues involving crooked doorjambs. In most cases, a mortgage lender won’t fund a loan if the home in question has structural problems.
Make Sure a Potential Home Purchase is Safe
As a first-time homebuyer, your knowledge of the various parts of a residential structure is very limited. This is why you need an experienced home inspector on your side during the buying process. An experienced home inspector will have a detailed checklist to follow when assessing the overall condition of a residential property.
This list is designed to help an inspector assess whether the home in question is safe. Before making this decision, an inspector will look at things like electrical wiring and mold problems. Older homes usually have lots of electrical wiring hazards. These hazards can result in the home catching fire. This is why uncovering potential safety issues should be one of your main goals as a potential buyer of the property.
Find Out About Illegal Installations or Additions
A comprehensive homeowner’s insurance policy is an essential possession for American homeowners. Before you purchase a home, you need to uncover any problems involving illegal additions or installations. If a particular home addition doesn’t meet local building codes, it can affect your ability to get an affordable insurance policy.
If home additions have been made, the current owner needs to produce documentation showing it was approved by local building inspectors. The last thing you want to do is buy a home with tons of illegal additions due to the long-term problems this can cause. This is why working with a knowledgeable home inspector to uncover these issues is vital.
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Get An Accurate Estimate On Future Expenses
When repair issues surface in a home you own, you’re solely responsible for fixing them. This means that all of the costs associated with fixing a damaged roof, plumbing system, or HVAC unit will fall on your shoulders. The more you know about the condition of these components, the easier it will be to forecast future expenses. For instance, if the roof on a potential home purchase is around 10 to 15 years old, chances are you will have to replace it in the near future.
With the information from a home inspection, you can ask for a price discount from the current owners if a number of vital systems are showing signs of wear. If the problems in question aren’t major, you might be able to get a deep discount on your forever home.
As you can see, working with an experienced home inspector is very beneficial.