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Kathy Carpenter

Broker Associate, ABR, e-PRO

GATEWAY ACCESS REALTY

(319) 430-1019

1295 Jordon St, Suite 1 North Liberty, IA 52317    

Home > Why Get an Inspection

Whether you are buying or selling a home, you should have a professional home inspection performed.

A home inspection will look at the systems that make up the building such as:

• Structural elements, foundation, framing, etc
• Plumbing systems
• Roofing
• Electrical systems
• Cosmetic conditions, paint, siding, etc

If you are buying a home, you need to know exactly what you are getting.  A home inspection, performed by a professional home inspector, will reveal any hidden problems with the home so that they may be addressed BEFORE the deal is closed.  You should require an inspection at the time you make a formal offer.  Make sure the contract has an inspection contingency.  Then hire your own inspector and pay close attention to the inspection report.  If you aren't comfortable with what the inspector finds, you can get out of the contract by following the remedy guidelines contained in the purchase contract.

Likewise, if you are selling a home, you want to know about such potential hidden problems before your home goes on the market.  Almost all contracts include the condition that the contract is contingent upon completion of a satisfactory inspection.  And most buyers are going to insist that the inspection be a professional home inspection, usually by an inspector they hire.  If the buyers inspector finds a problem, it can cause the buyer to get cold feet and the deal can fall through.  At best, surprise problems uncovered by the buyers inspector may cause delays in closing, and usually you will have to pay for repairs at the last minute, or take a lower price on your home.