Why get a home inspection?
How much is peace of mind and safety worth? When it comes to buying your dream home in Pagosa Country, a relatively small investment up front may bring you both. Requesting a thorough home inspection prior to completion of purchase will go a long way to achieving these important objectives.
Whether the home you’re buying is brand new or many years old it, is important to have that home inspected by a qualified person. A complete inspection will determine the condition of the home regarding appliances, electrical, plumbing, heating/cooling, roofing, drainage, structural integrity and even potential safety and health issues. Knowing the condition of these aspects of the home before purchase can reduce costly repairs or unsafe conditions down the road.
It is not uncommon for buyers to have knowledge or expertise in some of these areas. However, few can cover all of these different facets of a home’s condition. Using a qualified professional is money well spent, considering the total investment required to buy a home in today’s market.
A buyer has many options when turning to a professional to perform their home inspection. There are numerous firms that specialize in this service. Since the state of Colorado does not require licensing, a buyer should look for firms that have inspectors that are certified through national organizations or continuing education. It is also important to ensure that the company or individual carries errors and omissions and general liability insurance. Many companies will even offer professional guarantees. Inspections performed by these companies typically take from two to four hours and may cost between $350 and $1000.
Many professionally licensed engineers regularly perform home inspections as well.. They will usually cost a little more and take a little longer. Depending on the size of the home, it may take a full day to inspect and cost from $400 to $1200. The difference is they can diagnose structural issues and give a clear idea of the level of seriousness involved, rather than just bringing it to the buyer’s attention.
It is also important to understand the difference between a home inspection and an appraisal. Where as the home inspection is an unbiased analysis of the condition of the property and its components, an appraisal simply provides an estimate of the value of the property. Ultimately, both are important elements to the purchase process.
Finally, your professional REALTOR wants you to make an informed and protected purchase decision. He or she will help you to access the appropriate qualified professional to provide the most complete information available regarding the condition of the property you are buying. All of this should help reduce your pre-purchase anxiety and reassure you that the property you are buying is safe and sound.