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As Seen in TODAYS ADVANTAGE,
Everything you always wanted to know about... Home Inspections
Q. I'm buying a home and my Realtor says I should get a home inspection. What does it cover and why should I get one?
A: A professional home inspection is a thorough, visual examination of the structure and operating components of the home. It includes landscaping effects on the foundation, roofing, chimneys, gutters and downspouts, siding and trim, attics, plumbing, electrical, heating, interior rooms, and the condition of the basement. Its an analysis of potential fire, safety and health hazards, but most of all, it provides you with knowledge about your new home before you buy it.
In addition to giving you peace of mind knowing that you are making a good investment, we include an instructional book and video to help owners perform their own inspections and maintenance. We also offer a special maintenance plan for annual checkups, and pre-listing inspections for anyone thinking about selling their home.
Q. I'm getting ready to sell my home, but Im worried that the house has problems I dont know about. What should I do?
A: The scariest thing about selling a home is the liability the seller takes on, particularly when they fill out a disclosure report, which raises tremendous liability for the seller if the report fails to disclose everything about the house.
The seller can have a home inspection before listing the property. A pre-listing inspection will not only reveal what the seller needs to be aware of, it can give them time to fix any problems before buyers look at the house. A few days before closing is not the time to find out that there are problems. And fixing them before showing the property to buyers tells them it has been well-maintained. Best of all, a pre-listing inspection will transfer the liability away from the seller.
Q. I'm buying a home and my Realtor suggested a home inspector to call. How do I know the inspector wont say whatever the Realtor wants him to say?
A: This is a common concern among buyers, but the fact is that one of the roles the inspector plays is to take on the liability for the condition of the home. The inspector acts as an impartial third-party to the real estate transaction, merely reporting on the condition of the home. That is why inspectors want to report as honestly as possible and avoid lawsuits later. The inspector cant work for the Realtor, because that would be a conflict of interest, and Illinois would not have issued them a license.
Your Realtor may have a favorite inspector, but they should also offer you more than one choice to call. Ask to see any inspectors literature they may have, especially a sample inspection report.
Q. How do I choose the right home inspector?
A: Besides state licensing, check the following:
1) How soon can the inspector schedule the job? How quickly can he get the inspection report to you?
2) Ask to see a sample of the report. The most common type of report is the check-box, which lists every possibility, but only the ones that apply are checked. This makes for a long, confusing report, because you have to search for what is true for your house.
In a narrative report, only the conditions that apply are mentioned, with the inspectors explanation, making the report much easier to understand.
Also, how detailed is the report? Does it include photos or suggestions?
3) What else does the inspector include with the report? How about instructional materials for home maintenance, or information about home safety or consumer scams? In other words, how much does the inspector really care about your needs?
Q. My house is getting pretty old. How can I find out if anything needs fixing?
A: You dont have to be buying or selling a home to need an inspection. Even if your home is only ten years old, there may be things that need to be checked or updated.
There are a lot of building materials and practices that may have been thought to be adequate when the house was built, but now have been found to be unsafe, or at least should be improved. Getting a professional home inspection is the quickest and easiest way to find out what needs to be fixed, and a good inspector will also give advice on how to fix it.
We provide a detailed printed report on your homes condition, and include a home maintenance guide book and video to help you do your own inspections and repairs in the future.
Q. What services does your company offer that the others don’t?
A: For one thing, our Inspection Report is in an easy-to-read narrative style, showing only the conditions that apply to your house. It includes full color pictures of any areas of concern, with recommendations on how to address them. To see sample Reports, go to our website at www.RiverBendHomeInspections.com.
We also include a Home Maintenance Book and Video with every Report, helping you do your own yearly inspections and repairs, keeping your new home in top condition.
We now offer a one-call solution, with the addition of termite inspections for just $25 more with every home inspection.
Finally, we offer several kinds of Home Inspections: pre-purchase, pre-listing, peace-of-mind, and new construction. Check our website for explanations of each. Hopefully, you’ll also find a wealth of information for all home buyers or owners while you’re there.
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