First Time Home Buyer Worries
Home buyers, especially those buying a home for the first-time, have much to worry about in the purchase process. These concerns may include: Credit Issues, Down Payment, Affordability, Upkeep Costs, Guidance Through the Process, Market Knowledge and much more. While a home inspection can’t solve all your concerns, it can certainly help alleviate some of them. Upkeep costs are an area where we hope to provide some insight and some help with.
Home Inspections Purpose
Going into your purchase with a clear understanding of the current conditions of a home is exactly what a home inspection is there for. According to InterNACHI, the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors, “a home inspection is a non-invasive, visual examination of the accessible areas of a residential property, performed for a fee, which is designed to identify defects within specific systems and components defined by the standard that are both observed and deemed material by the inspector.” https://www.nachi.org/sop.htm
Is Everything Perfect?
Not likely as every home will have issues. This inspection is not a guarantee that everything is perfect or will not fail, but it does provide a snapshot into the current conditions of the home as viewed at the time of the inspection. Using the inspector’s knowledge and independent observations can help the potential buyer know what types of expenses they may be facing in the future.
Case Study
One example found a young couple purchasing and moving into a new home after having received a home inspection. While their home did not have immediate issues, it was pointed out in the inspection report that their furnace and central air system were reaching the end of its useful life. This knowledge allowed them to budget appropriately for the cost of a new replacement system and when it failed, they were able to cover the expenses. Thanks in part to their home inspection and their smart budgeting, this couple was not left scrambling to come up with the money.
Conclusion
A home inspection is a snapshot of what the homes conditions are and not a forecast or crystal ball into when a system will fail. As homes age, they will experience ongoing maintenance issues and having a clear understanding of what they are will help you budget for the inevitable. An excellent summary of estimated life expectancy for various home components can be found here https://www.nachi.org/life-expectancy.htm Contact Inspected Moore today to understand the current condition of your home and what things you will need to plan for moving forward.
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