Last updated on October 11th, 2020 at 11:36 pm

Last Updated on October 11, 2020 by

Should you have a home inspection before you close on a new home? I remember when no one had home inspections, they were not popular nor were there people who had licenses, certifications, or other papers to indicate they knew what they were doing.

Not it seems that many people in not most actually pay for a home inspection. This is a cost that is added to closing on the side of the buyer. It’s up to the buyer to decide if they want an inspection and the real estate agent should indicate in the purchase agreement that there will be an inspection and that a successful inspection is a contingency of the deal.

I was not always a fan of spending yet more in closing costs to buy a home. However, what has changed my mind is the possibility that I could buy a house with unknown hazards that would eventually reduce the value of the property not counting the cost of repairs.

For years as I purchased yet another primary residence, it was always with a view of the property being ready for an eventual sale and the fact that I did not want to get bogged down at the time of the sale with issues that should have been fixed by the previous buyer.

With all of the litigation today, the inspection actually helps both the buyer and the seller. The seller has to provide a form that tells you the buyer all about the property e.g. if there are water leaks or mold. If you are the buyer and you pay for an inspection and that inspection finds mold, for example, the seller would then have the opportunity to fix the issue before closing.

This relieves the seller from future liability (in theory) and provides you with peace of mind. Frankly, it’s not the ordinary things that a home inspector finds that are of concern. When the inspector finds “signs” of things that could be wrong that make the person more valuable to you.

Water damage, electrical issues, and other problems that can not be seen beyond walls sometimes give themselves away with other signs. If the inspector looks at the breaker box and finds issues, he may conclude that you need further inspections by an electrical contractor to determine if there are any issues.

You should look closely at the sellers’ disclosure documents. Ask questions about what you do not clearly understand. If they tell you there was a sewer leak two years ago and it was fixed, check it out or tell the property inspector to look at the fix. Be aware of things that were disclosed and recently taken care of. Sometimes in haste, the work may not be done well.

Your real estate agent should not recommend a property inspector. Your agent can however give you a list of property inspectors. It’s your decision entirely. Since you can add this to the financing or perhaps get some closing cost assistance from the seller, it takes the sting out of the cost.

If you are not sure, take a good look at the disclosure document, walk the property, talk with your, real estate agent. Remember, a property inspector will drill holes in the walls or get intrusive. Basically, they look and they can see everything you can see albeit with trained eyes.

If you look at the property and have no issues with a ht disclosure statement, perhaps you do not need an inspector. Do not rely on your agent to provide advice about getting things fixed. They are cautioned to tell you to have a professional take a look at the issue. Your agent can provide you with the name or names of people who can perform repairs but it is up to you to make contact and make arrangements.

Sometimes even with a property inspector who finds a list of things that the owner will provide some funds to you in closing for you to have others do the work on the repairs after closing. If it works for you that’s great. If you buy a fixer, often the seller will state that this is an “as is” sale and you will be fully responsible for all repairs. If you want a fixer and you are not very experienced, contract with a property inspector.

To find a home inspector, go to the Mississippi Home Inspector Board website by clicking here. There is a list on the left side of the home page where you can find licensees.