Home Inspections – Why Should You Get Them?
Buying a home in Alaska is an exciting adventure. We know that there is a lot involved in purchasing a new home. You want to make all the right decisions and find your Alaskan dream home. You likely have been shopping around for the perfect home and busy making a list of your dealbreakers, best locations, price ranges, getting pre-approved for your home loan, and dreaming of decorating your new place and making it your own. There are many steps in the home buying process, but with careful planning you can be successful.
After much searching, you think you have found the perfect home and you’re ready to put in an offer. Now is the time to decide …. Should you get a home inspection? Does it really matter?
What are home inspections?
Home inspections are an important part of both buying and selling a home. They are different than an appraisal which is done to determine the home’s market value and usually required when you take out a mortgage. An inspection isn’t always required.
A home inspection will help you to determine if there are any structural issues either inside or outside of the home. A home inspection usually costs a few hundred dollars but can save you a lot more money in the long run. Some choose to waive the inspection in order to provide a more appealing offer to sellers, but this can bite you down the line if there was a costly fix.
Why should you have a home inspection?
Is this your first home? As a first-time homebuyer you’re most likely going into this adventure hopeful and excited for the best. It would be depressing to buy your first home only to have to spend a substantial amount of money on major repairs that you could avoid with a careful inspection.
Inspections can also help you to negotiate the repairs or the price of the home with the seller. Problems that are not easily seen such as electrical and plumbing issues, cracked foundations or a needy roof can be caught by an experienced home inspector. If you decide to not have a home inspection and then find a major problem with the property, it’s likely that you will be unable to back out of the deal without losing a lot of money.
If you’re selling your home a home inspection will help you to have a head start on repairs and maintenance issues before you even list the home. There are many resources you can look at for advice on maintenance issues to look out for.
How do you find a good home inspector?
It’s important to find a reputable and professional inspector and you want to be sure to do your homework and shop around. Your real estate agent and brokers are a great resource as they deal with many home inspectors on a regular basis. It’s best to base your decision on reputation over lowest price.
If you’re looking for a home in the Anchorage, Eagle River, Wasilla, and the Mat-Su Valley, we would be happy to help you find your perfect new home and talk with you more about your options and home inspections. Please feel free to reach out to us with any questions. We are happy to help!
