Buying a home is one of the largest investments you can make in your life. For most people, it takes anywhere from 15 to 30 years to pay off a home. 

Naturally, before committing yourself to these payments and the property, you’ll want to make sure you’re making a sound investment. No matter how well a home is built, it will experience natural wear and tear throughout its lifetime. Weather, usage, accidents, and time can breakdown the major components of a house. 

Before signing a contract, look over our home inspection tips for buyers. The home inspection is a vital part of the home buying experience. Keep reading for everything you need to know about this process.

Hire a Professional Home Inspector and Get an Appraiser

One of the most important items on the home inspection checklist for buyers is hiring the right home inspector. Most mortgage lenders don’t require a professional inspection, only an appraisal. There are certain types of loans, like FHA loans and VA loans that require both an appraisal and an inspection. 

However, hiring a professional home inspector is imperative to ensure the home you’re investing in is in good condition. You can (and should) inspect the home yourself. But without an official inspection report, it may be difficult to negotiate with the seller to get repairs taken care of or lower the asking price. 

Professional home inspectors are trained to evaluate a home’s primary components to protect the buyer’s interests. This includes things outside of most homeowners’ know-how, like plumbing, electrical, foundation, and roofing.

Find out more in this article about inspections and appraisals.

Be Thorough

What should the buyer do during a home inspection?

As the homebuyer, you must insist on being present while the home inspector walks through the home. This is essential for keeping yourself in the loop and understanding everything there is to know about your potential home. 

Follow along and ask questions. If you see something you think the home inspector missed, point it out. 

Don’t feel bad about being a nuisance. After all, you’re the one who will be investing your money into the house.

Be thorough and inspect every nook and cranny. Check for mold in hotspots like underneath cabinets, in basements, and under sinks. Check for signs of water damage, pests, and other damages to the house.

Finally, one of the most important home inspection tips for buyers is to read the full inspection report. Don’t just hit the highlights. You need to be aware of everything the home inspector finds.

Don’t Make Assumptions About Newer Homes

People often make inaccurate assumptions about the condition of a home because of its age. New homes are assumed to be in great condition while older homes are expected to have more issues. Don’t make this mistake.

Every home should be inspected the same, regardless of age. Ultimately, it comes down to how well the previous homeowners maintained and cared for the home. 

Additionally, things like faulty repairs and installations by unqualified contractors can lead to major issues. This can occur in old and new homes alike.

Be Cautious of DIY Repairs

Many home sellers do their best to save money during the home selling process. As such, before and after a home inspection, they’ll make DIY repairs, updates, and renovations. 

While some projects don’t require a skilled and experienced hand, there are some jobs better left to the professionals. Keep an eye out for obvious DIY repairs or renovations as they can come back to haunt you. 

For example, if the previous homeowner failed to pull permits before building a deck or shed out back, it may be in violation of coding laws. Other DIY work can lead to bigger problems down the road, like DIY roof repairs. In the worst-case scenario, DIY repairs can be dangerous, particularly when dealing with things like electrical, gas lines, etc.

Don’t Focus on the Wrong Things

Learning what is and isn’t important is one of the most practical home inspection tips for first-time buyers. First-time buyers tend to get hung up on small details, rather than looking at the big picture. 

For example, they might see unflattering cosmetic damage to drywall or trim which takes away from the overall aesthetic of the home. However, these issues are easy and inexpensive to repair. 

Instead, focus on major functional aspects of the home’s condition. Outdated electrical can be unreliable and unsafe. A roof in disrepair can lead to expensive damages down the road, as can negative drainage. 

These should take priority when negotiating with sellers.

Understand How to Negotiate for the Best Outcome

This leads us to our next home inspection tips for buyers. You need to talk with your realtor to understand how to negotiate with sellers based on the outcome of the home inspection. 

If you don’t mind making some of the repairs or updates yourself, negotiating for a lower price is a great way to save money on the home purchase. Just make sure you understand the expenses of fixing things up once the home is in your name.

Alternatively, you can make your offer on the home contingent on certain repairs or renovations completed by the seller. This is often the case with major issues, like negative drainage, water damage, roof damage, the presence of mold, etc. 

Depending on your mortgage and your lender, the house may not be eligible for your offer until the seller makes the necessary repairs. This is common in government-based loans like FHA and VA loans.

Make Sure Any Negotiated Repaired are Reinspected

Last on our home inspection checklist is to make sure the house is reinspected after the seller makes repairs. Otherwise, you’re simply taking the seller’s word for it that everything has been remediated. 

This is especially important if the seller did their own repairs or renovations, rather than hiring a contractor. The home inspector can assess the repairs and updates and make sure they’re up to code and adequate based on the negotiated terms and conditions. 

Want More Real Estate and Home Inspection Tips for Buyers?

As you can see, the home inspection process isn’t as simple as hiring a home inspector and sitting back while things are taken care of for you. You need to be present during the inspection so you can understand the fundamental aspects of the home. Furthermore, you need to pay attention and ask questions.

And if you’re looking for more home inspection tips for buyers and real estate advice, we can help. Check out some of our other articles while you’re here for more fantastic buying and selling information. Our blog was created to make the real estate process less of a struggle for home buyers and sellers alike.