Don’t Forget the Home Inspection

Once you have executed a contract to purchase a home, you can expect to be provided with a Property Disclosure Statement from the seller, which contains all information material to the sale of the property. At the Linnane Realty Team, we ask you to read through it carefully. We consult with you, and encourage any questions. In general, as a buyer, you are entitled to conduct a series of inspections on the property that you are about to purchase. Some of the items typically investigated during an inspection are: appliances, plumbing, A/C, heating, electrical, structure, foundation, roof and attic. If you have concerns in areas such as indoor air quality, expansive soil conditions, previous fire or flood, pests and mold, you can ask your inspector about them. If you are obtaining a loan, your lender may require specific inspections, such as an inspection to certify that the home is free of wood-destroying organisms. Additional inspections that you may want to consider are: a survey to determine where property lines are located, and a claims report, which gives buyers the past insurance claim history on the property (a factor which can affect the cost of you homeowner’s insurance). In addition to formal inspections, buyers should consider other methods of obtaining information about the property. For example, talk to the neighbors and drive around the neighborhood during different times of day. In touring the neighborhood, consider things such as proximity to freeways, airports and schools. When you partner with us, we recommend that you choose a home inspector that is certified by a trade association. We can also provide you with resources for obtaining information on crime statistics, city planning and zoning, school information and environmental concerns which may affect your decision to purchase. Don’t go it alone! Let’s talk soon if you are considering buying your next home.