Linda Culotta

Market Rate Mortgages

  • Home
  • About
    • About
    • My Podcast Episodes
  • Resources
    • Market Rate Mortgages, LLC NMLS#213838 – Market Update
    • First Time Buyer Tips
    • First Time Seller Tips
    • Closing Costs
    • Home Appraisal
    • Home Inspection
    • Loan Programs
    • Loan Process
    • Mortgage FAQ
    • Mortgage Glossary
  • Calculator
  • Reviews
    • Leave a Review
    • Reviews
    • Zillow Reviews
    • Additional Reviews
  • Apply Now
  • Blog
  • Contact Me

Buying Your First Home? Here’s Why You’ll Need to Ensure You Have a Proper Home Inspection

February 17, 2023 by Linda Culotta

Buying Your First Home? Here's Why You'll Need to Ensure You Have a Proper Home InspectionThere’s a whole lot to learn when buying one’s first home, an investment that can bring joy, but sometimes, grief. A competent real estate agent can assist in locating those homes that meet the home buyer’s needs and can advise on factors such as market value of the home and neighborhood services. The agent will help the buyer through the negotiation and purchase process. But the buyer should take responsibility to make sure that the steps below are taken.

Home Inspection Contingency Included in Purchase Offer

At the point where the buyer finds a home and decides to make an offer, the contract should be written contingent on an acceptable inspection. If serious issues are found, the buyer has the options of requesting certain items to be fixed, to be compensated for the costs of repair, for a lower purchase price or to cancel the contract. Without this contingency, the buyer is bound to the contract without these options and may suffer huge costs.

Selecting the Home Inspector

Reputable and successful home inspectors may be recommended by the real estate agent or friends. The buyer should talk with prospective inspectors and ask for references. Another indication of competency is an affiliation with professional groups such as the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI) or the National Association of Home Inspectors (NAHI).

Inspecting the Home

There are potentially many problems in homes that are not visible to the eye. The home buyer that engages a professional home inspector can be assured that major problems will be identified. As an added value, by accompanying the home inspector and asking questions, the first-time buyer can learn about proper maintenance and of possible problems that will not go into the report.

What Will the Home Inspector Do?

The home inspector examines the entire home, both outside and inside, and checks for safety, defects, replacement or repair needs, and potential problems that should be monitored closely. The inspector will then produce a report covering the findings. The inspection generally takes two to three hours and costs between $200 and $500.

What Will Be Inspected?

External inspections will cover the roof, exterior walls, foundation, grading, garage, and may include sprinklers, lawn, porch lights, walkways and driveways as well. Interior inspections will examine the plumbing and electrical systems, HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning), the water heater, kitchen appliances, laundry room, fire safety and bathrooms.

Taking this optional step of completing a home inspection, even with a new home, will be well worth the time and additional cost. It will provide a basis on which to make a more realistic offer and give the buyer the peace of mind of having in-depth knowledge about the house being purchased.

Linda Culotta

Filed Under: Home Buyer Tips Tagged With: Buying a Home, Home Buyer Tips, Home Inspections

Linda Culotta

Linda Culotta

Broker/Owner - Loan Officer
Market Rate Mortgages, powered by Fidelity Direct Mortgage
Call (239) 398-3978
linda.culotta@fdmhome.com
NMLS# 213838
Licensed to work in: Florida (LO67655)
Get a Rate Quote →

Click to Download My App!
Linda Culotta

Connect with Me

How can I help?

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Browse articles by category

Archives

Quick Links

  • About
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact Us
NMLS# 213838
Licensed to work in: Florida (LO67655)

Equal Housing Lender

Our Location


Naples, Florida 34114

Copyright © 2023 · Powered by MySMARTblog

Copyright © 2023 · Genesis Sample Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in