Regardless of whether it's your first home-buying experience or you're an old pro with the process, your future home does need to have a professional once-over to be sure that the investment you make will be a happy and healthy one.
The possibility of first-time home owners getting emotionally attached to a house are much higher than for people who have bought a house before, so they should always let a certified professional home inspector, who has no emotional attachment to the place, impartially and appropriately identify any structural, electrical or plumbing problems that may be looming. This will ensure both the safety and the value of the house.
And for the old home-buying pro's out there, who have gone through this process more than once, it can be easy to don the rose-coloured glasses of past experience when it comes to checking out the home yourself, but there are aspects of a home inspection that the professionals can stake out some of the hard to discover problems, like mould and termites, that require special equipment and much experience to find.
We recommend that you speak with your real estate agent to find reliable, certified home-inspectors who will be able to recommend someone who can reliably and responsibly check the nooks and crannies, walls and roofs long before the problems will be under your responsibility - before finalizing the papers, you want to know your future home will be the perfect place for you and your family!
An inspection is typically done after an offer is accepted, but before the sale is finalized, which gives you leverage for negotiating concessions regarding the findings of the inspection. This can mean changing the price, or negotiating repairs that you would like to have addressed prior to the sale being closed.
A home inspection is going to cost you several hundred dollars, depending on where you live, and the size of the home, but it is a small price to pay to ensure that the home will be worth your investment. A home inspection allows you to know exactly what you're buying – and if it truly is the perfect place for you.
We hope you have a smooth and safe move into your new home, and while you're still in contact with the home owners, please do also read the article "Crucial Questions Home Buyers Should Ask Sellers Before Moving In" Ask these questions near the end of the home buying process; like during the walk-through, or at closing. There’s nothing quite like the wisdom of experience, so if you have the opportunity to speak with people who have been living there for years, go ahead and ask them some questions. You’ll be surprised at what you’ll learn!
As always, we are happy to help make your move to Ucluelet as seamless as possible, so please feel free to contact us.
