Are Home Inspections Worth the money?

Tons of people in the market for a home ask this question because of the amount of money and time they spend just to locate, decide on, and ultimately purchase a house. Buying a home is costly and can be stressful, but a home inspection is a cost you should never forgo. 

Home inspections can turn up issues with the home that could potentially cost you thousands of dollars; however, even if the inspection finds nothing wrong with the house the home inspection costs are still worth your peace of mind.

​Without a home inspection, you could buy a house you initially love. But when the weather changes and it gets hot outside you may discover that your air conditioner can’t keep up. Instead of relaxing comfortably in your new home, you are sweating, restless, stressed, and have to spend thousands of dollars for a new air conditioner. This is just one of the problems that a home inspection can provide a solution to. 

This is even true when the home is a new construction. It is not worth the risk to chance buying a brand new house only to find out it wasn’t constructed the way you thought. 

A new construction can have a multitude of problems like:

• Incorrectly Installed Appliances 
• Structural Defects
• Drainage Issues
• Window Leaks
• Faulty Wiring
• Plumbing Mistakes
• And much more

Sometimes a home inspection will turn up enough to make you think twice about purchasing the home. This would likely be disheartening, but you never want to end up in a money pit (have you ever seen “The Money Pit” with Tom Hanks?) and spend more than the home is worth.

How Does a Home Inspection Work?

A home inspector will evaluate the home for health, safety, and major mechanical issues. The amount of time the inspection takes depends largely on the size of the home, but for an house of an average size the inspection will take a few hours. The report, however, will usually not be completed for a few days. 

The person who is paying for the inspection should always stay at the house for the entire time the home inspector is there. It is good to ask the inspector any questions you have along the way. We want to give you as much peace of mind and eliminate all of the stress that comes along with this phase of the home buying process. 

It is important that you choose a home inspector that not only has experience and all the certificates and licenses, but who will also do a thorough job finding every issue both big and small in the house. We treat every home like we are the buyers. Therefore, we take the time to look for issues in every nook and cranny.

A good home inspector will take their time to check any and all parts of the home.

We will make sure to identify any problems with:

• Structure
• Water Damage
• Roofing
• Electrical Systems
• Plumbing
• Infestation
• Lead Paint
• HVAC

Here in North Texas, it is said that there are two types of homes- Those that need foundation work and those that have already had their foundation fixed. This is why we always do a thorough foundation inspection.

A shifting foundation can cause both minor and major problems all throughout the home and it is important to know what condition it is in before moving in.

Who Pays for the Home Inspection?

Typically, the buyer is responsible for all home inspection costs. Therefore, the buyer should be the one to select the home inspector. This is because the buyer is the one taking the most risk by purchasing a home.

The home inspector is helping the buyer make the final decision in buying the home by helping them see and understand issues they would likely miss on their own. 

It is common for sellers to have the home inspected before putting it on the market. They would often fix any issues that came up on the report before selling the home. As a buyer, it is important that you ask the seller for the home inspection report. 

Sometimes, a seller will try to bribe you by discounting a home that has not been inspected. This should be a red flag because the seller would not need to dissuade you if there is nothing wrong with the house. 

You should not take a seller’s word on the condition of the home. Even if they are not trying to be dishonest, they could be unintentionally misrepresenting the house. There could be issues with the home that the seller is unaware of that a home inspector will find and include in their report. 

How Do You Choose a Home Inspector?

As with anything, “you get what you pay for” also applies to home inspection so be careful when researching Grand Prairie home inspection companies and do not choose based solely on cost.

It is good to ask potential home inspectors questions such as:

• What will you inspect?
• What won’t you inspect?
• How long will the inspection take?
• What if you miss something?

We want you to be as comfortable as possible and encourage communication throughout the entire home inspection process. 

Keep in mind that the amount you could spend on repairs as well as your peace of mind does not compare with the low cost of a one time home inspection. A thorough home inspection could save you weeks of restless nights and thousands of dollars in avoidable costs. 

You should also consider how much the home inspection insurance costs, while keeping in mind that these costs can also save you a bundle of money.

We encourage you to do your research on Grand Prairie property inspectors because we want you to be comfortable with your decision to use us to evaluate your home.

We inspect homes all across the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, so if you need an Arlington Home Inspector look no further! We would love to talk to you about the home and your needs!