Home inspections are a valuable part of the home buying process. It doesn't matter if you are purchasing a brand new or a resale home, getting an inspection is important. Even if an inspector doesn't find a thing wrong, at least you will have the piece of mind you are doing the right thing.

Absolutely. A home inspection may reveal defects unknown to the buyer or seller and save the buyer expensive repairs after settlement. Sellers may not always know of defects to roofs, systems, foundations and will usually make repairs to sell the home with a minimum of problems to buyer and seller. The home inspection gives the buyer a degree of peace of mind that is invaluable. A good agents will explain the limitations of the home inspection so the buyer isn't expecting cosmetic changes. A home inspector is often the most objective entity in the home buying process. Home inspections are a big return for a reasonable fee.

Home inspections are a critical part of the real estate transaction. We always encourage our buyers to be on hand during the inspection as it is a great way to learn about the home and its idiosyncrasies. I also prefer reports that include photos, so that both sellers and buyers are able to see for themselves the issues being addressed. Very often, these problem areas are located in attics and crawl spaces, where most of us don't care to go.

Remember that old saying, 'penny wise and pound foolish'? That always comes out of my mouth when folks want to save money and skip the inspection. None of us are perfect, and since houses are built by humans, there will be mistakes. Catching them earlier rather than later allows you to make smart decisions in the negotiation and allows you to plan for the future in the house.

This is perhaps the easiest question I've responed to on these boards. Would you rather risk blowing $300 on a superflous inspection or $400,000 on a lemon? You won't face possible financial ruin over $300. Unless it's your last $300. And if that's the case, what the heck are you doing buying a house? ;)

Conducting a Home Inspection is one of the most important parts of the process. In Massachusetts, sellers are required to disclose any “known material defects”, but your average homeowner is not aware of most defects that don’t affect their day-to-day living. They may be aware if a window is broken or if an outlet has burnt out, but they may not know about the mold in the attic, the electrical box being wired wrong or the high levels of radon. Consult your Buyer(s) Agent for a list of reputable Inspectors in the area. If any damages are uncovered in the inspection, and you negotiate with the seller to have them repaired prior to closing, make sure you conduct a “final walk-through” prior to signing the closing papers.

Best of Luck,
Melissa Mancini, Realtor, CBR, GRI

When it comes to home inspections, you can make a little mistake or a big mistake. The little mistake is paying the cost of getting the home inspected and not finding anything wrong. The big mistake is not paying the cost of inspection and finding something wrong later. I believe if you hire a QUALIFIED PROFESSIONAL Inspector that it is some of the best money you'll ever spend!!!

As I'm sure you know, John, the answer is simple: EVERY DIME! Just make sure you get a good home inspector and I always encourage a second visit before close of escrow to ensure repairs were made properly.

Folks will often pay a mechanic $100 to inspect a $8000 used car. Home inspections are typically $200-$400 (at least in CA, for homes that sell for $500K to $1M). Why would anyone NOT have a home inspection??

Don't buy a headache! Inspections help you minimize your risk. Just fork out a few hundred to avoid sleepless nights and big problems in the future. Attending the home inspection is very important, it's when buyers learn a lot about their new home and what needs to be done to keep the home in top shape.

Inspections are really important when relocating to a new area that may have issues that were unheard of where a buyer used to live. A good inspector will have the buyer walking away with a better understanding of the home they are getting into.

A home inspection is the "cheapest" money a buyer can spend to determine whether or not he has chosen the right property. I have paid for the inspection if a buyer was strapped for cash.. that is how much I believe in them. Of course a good inspector is a must so buyers should be sure the inspector is licensed, has E&O Insurance and belongs to a National Home Inspectors Association.

This is probably one of the biggest investments in your life. You bet a home inspection is worth your money. If anything major comes up on the report, you want to have a choice of accepting the contract, rejecting it or re-negotiate. Better to find out about any problems before you buy the house than later when you are stuck with it.

Yes! And more - but don't tell the inspector that. Be sure to attend the inspection to get all that great information that won't be in the report; they'll show the buyer how to update and maintain the property, which is not within the scope of the inspection but sure is helpful. Besides the fact that they're trained professionals, they're up to date on current codes, and should be familiar with the area that the house is located in to differentiate between what is normal for a neighborhood and what isn't. See the ASHI website. Make sure that they're certified.

YES, YES, YES. Of course if you get a cruddy inspector then no it's not worth it. If at all possible get someone who has at least 5 years experience as an inspector, but also came from the construction side of things and has 5-10+ years of experience there. Then you know they will actually know what they are looking for and talking about. Also as a general rule, always spend the extra $100 and get your sewer scoped, even on new construction. Plumbing issues are usually always expensive, so better to know before you buy. Also if the home has any part of it below ground level, get a Radon test. Cheap and well well worth it. Radon is one of the leading causes of lung cancer and it's cheap to identify and easy to remediate. Hope that helps.

Home inspections are not only important for the potential buyer of a property, but extremely important for the seller to have an inspection prior to putting their home on the market. It's been my experience over the years to see buyer's agents produce a "laundry list" of items they want repaired or replaced before the closing. Typically, if the buyer asks for a cash adjustment rather than asking for repairs, the amount will usually be much more than the actual cost for the repairs.

Now the issue becomes a contentious one between buyer trying to get the largest cash adjustment to reduce the overall cost of the property, and the seller trying to keep as much money as was originally agreed to on the purchase contract.

What results, is a renegotiation of the purchase contract to satisfy the needs and wants of the buyer's Inspection Notice. It's human nature to ask for more, because the buyer will anticipate that the sellers will not agree to every item requested.

What a smart seller would do and a good listing agent advise, is to pre-inspect the property before putting it on the market.
By doing a pre-inspection, pre-appraisal and including a Home Warranty on the listing, the sellers will sell their property faster and for more money. We call this the "No Surprises" guarantee.

Well I counted 24 yesses and zero Noes. Just to keep it from being unanimous I will give a partial (99%) yes. --- You see I have been on dozens of inspections trailing along as the agent. - As has my wife also an agent. - Although we aren't professional home inpectors we considered ourselves to be informed and knowledgeable. We purchase a new home from a production builder. We read our 2/ 10 warranty and knew the builders strong reputation. Wife and I conducted our own thourough inspection, and saved the $400 inspection fee. We noted about 35 minor items ( a "punch list" ) and the builder quickly made the repairs. We continued to review the house quarterly for the two year warranty period. the builder honored the warrantly diligently.

I always advise my customers to hire an inspector. There have been several cases where the buyer was an experienced contractor or jouneyman tradesman and felt comfortable doing the inspection themselves, with out the need for a second opinion. - These people must sign a waiver agreeing that they have overruled my advice and have chosen to not hire an outside inspector. Those have turned out well in most cases.
This is kind of like that other trulia question should I hire a realtor or go FSBO. Should I hire an inspector. If you have to ask the question because you don't know the answer, then you need to hire an expert. - Of course I think John is just asking to get thediscussion moving.

Hi John!

Yes. Always and without exception. As a buyer, even if you are interested in an "as is" property, a home inspection is extremely important. Your agent should make sure that your offer includes wording that says your contract is contingent on your approval of the inspection. You don't want to walk into a bigger project than you planned. An inspection for a buyer is also a useful tool to plan and budget for improvements or upgrades that you may want to do in the future. Most lenders require an inspection and termite report. I would never purchase a home without an inspection, and I would never reccomend that a buyer do so.

As a seller, an inspection is an excellent tool. You may ask yourself, "why should I pay for an inspection if the buyer will most likely get one anyway?" All of my sellers have a pre-listing inspection. Knowing about and repairing any latent defects before listing is a great way to put your home on the top of a buyer's list. It shows that you have nothing to hide. Also it helps to assure that a contract will actually close. One of the worst situations is having some major problems come back on an inspection a couple of weeks before closing. Fixing these problems on short notice can be alot more expensive than if you were able to fix them when you listed your home. A buyer may actually be able to cancel their contract. You still have to disclose and fix the problem, or at the very least disclose and reduce your asking price accordingly for the next buyer. Your home now shows on the MLS that you have had a contract that was not completed and it has been taken off the market while it was under contract. Buyers and buyer's agents look at this as an opening to submit lower offers and ask for more concessions. I know that sellers want to sell their home with the lowest expenses possible, but the few hundred dollars up front that you would spend on an inspection could save you thousands in delayed and canceled closings, last minute repairs, extended days on the market, and final sales price. Remember that the goal is to sell your home for the best price in the least amount of time possible. An inspection is just one of the many tools you have at your disposal to help assure that you reach that goal.

Best of luck!

Allison Clancy

Wow, how do I answer this question? Yes, yes, and yes!!!

Below were some VERY good responses. Please go ahead and spend the money and get a home inspection - even if it is new construction (if you are thinking of purchasing). The headaches you will save yourself later by getting a home inspection now is priceless. Sometimes being frugal with your money is NOT always wise.

A competent home inspector can save a homebuyer not just money, but agrevation and stress. A home is probably the largest purchase the average person will make. A buyer should always have an inspection to determine if the property is as it seems. Hidden problems become the buyer's problems and expense after closing. Remember, the house you buy now will be the house you will sell at a later time. Any problems at that time will be yours to deal with and pay for. Therefore, have the inspections and get the problems fixed before you buy.

And then some. This is typically one of the largest purchases a person makes, ever. A professional's opinion about the physical condition of the home can save thousands of dollars and prevent a bad investment from being made. There are some things that might cause a buyer to not proceed with a purchase. I have had buyers change their mind after finding black mold, a leaky foundation or certain kinds of insulation. The $300 or $400 they spent on the inspection was nothing compared to the cost of remedying those situations.

John,

Most definitely. In Denver an inspection is anywhere from $200-$400. I have had clients save thousands of dallars on unseen and unexpected issues and problems that would have come up later.

Robert McGuire ASr
Broker/Consultant
Your Castle Real Estate
1776 S. Jackson St. #412
Denver CO 80210

YES!

Who doesn't think it's a good idea to spend a few hundred bucks to ensure that the biggest financial investment you'll ever make is a relatively safe bet?

Home inspections are absolutely worth the money! What is $500 today to know about what could be a $10,000 issue in 6 months? At the very least, you can use the inspection as a way to get the buyer out of the contract if they get cold feet or find a better deal (In CO, anyone can do the inspection and you can void the contract for any inspection reason, ex. "the sky is too blue over the house"). I always recommend inspections for my clients, and not just because it is legally required, but because they need to know what they are getting into.

YES, YES, and YES!! Home inspections AND SEWER SCOPES are definitely worth the money.

I could never do my job as well as I do without advising my clients that they do a home inspection and sewer scope. The $400-500 upfront is much better than having a $15,000-20,000 problem to handle later on.

Brooke Hengst
REALTOR, CDPE, The Elite Team
Your Castle Real Estate
(720) 988-5952
bhengst1@gmail.com http://www.brookehengst.com

I gave a thumbs up to Kristal. Well said, Kristal. Yes, you should have an inspection service inspect a home you are contemplating buying.

You should absolutely tour that home if it's new. And, keep inspecting it. I didn't discover a problem with my roof until a year later, and Richmond American fixed it without grousing or dragging their feet.

Best,
SuZ
PML of Longmont

Absolutly, home inspection may reveal some defects to any buyers. It's a valuable part of the home buying process. A good agent will explain the benefits of the home inspection, especially to new buyers.

Hi John:

Economists talk about "symmetrical" and/or "asymmetrical" information. The idea is that markets function best when buyers and sellers have essentially the same information about a product, i.e. "symmetrical information." The reason is simple. I, as a buyer, am willing to pay a premium for a product I know to be in good condition, functioning properly, and likely to cause me few problems in the future. I'm willing to pay less if these conditions are not obvious.

However, if I cannot trust the information the seller is providing because I cannot verify it and I know the seller has a financial incentive to hide issues, then, economist suggest, I will assume that there are problems I cannot see and, thus, reduce what I am willing to pay to compensate for any unseen problems. In other words, very good products can be discounted because buyers have no choice but to assume issues will arise. (Think about how quickly new cars loose value when driven off the lot.)

The point is that home inspections by qualified inspectors help ensure that buyers have roughly (or exactly?) the same information about the condition of a home as do the sellers: hence symmetrical information. In fact, inspectors often uncover issues that the owner is not even aware of.

As a result, buyers can feel more comfortable paying extra for a really good house and make adjustments to pay less for homes with serious issues. This helps protect buyers. It also protects owners who are selling well-maintained homes because good homes are not automatically discounted to accommodate buyers worried about issues that do not really exist.

So, are home inspections worth the money. Absolutely. They help buyers find good homes. They help sellers of well-maintained homes get prices they deserve. The only people penalized are those who do not keep their homes in really good shape.

Kind regards,
Ron Rovtar
Prudential Real Estate of the Rockies
Days: 303.981.1617
Evenings: 303.473.1926
ron@rovtar.com
http://www.rovtar.com

Home inspections are by far one of the biggest returns you will have when buying a home. I had one transaction where the home inspector discovered that there was a major foundation issue by the way the carpet was raised. Sure enough $10,000 later in repairs my Buyers closed the transaction and think that $275 home inspection was the best investment EVER.

As a homeowner, and not an inspector or broker, I would ask the homeowner to ask themselves this question:

Can I feel comfortable with the report provided by a home inspector if they require that I sign a contract that absolves them from any responsibility for issues that may have been missed?

Can I feel comfortable when it is the broker that recommends a particular inspector? Would the inspector that always finds issues, and ultimately puts the sale of the home in jeopardy, be the one recommended?

I think that the prospective homeowner would do themselves a favor by learning what to look for - even a visit to look at city records on the property and just asking the neighbors what they know could provide a wealth of information. The internet also holds tons of advice on what to look for - just with a simple Google search. The issues that were "overlooked" by my inspector were incredible, and I feel like a fool for not having done my homework.

Absolutely, not only does it assure your buyer but also it protects you as An agent from
Many issues that crop up in the future when an inspection is not done. Also, it makes sense to use
Inspectors who are ASHI and in California , CREIA certified.
Don't you think a $200-$500 inspection is worth it?

Quite often these inspections catch an issue with a foundation or roof which costs, $70k in California
To replace a foundation or a Roof that may look just fine but harbor mold.

Good luck.
Perry

Yes, a home inspection is absolutely worth it. Here is a blog I wrote about home inspections.

Get that home inspection before you close on a home
When it comes to things you need to do before buying a home, a professional home inspection tops the list. After you have signed a contract and it has been accepted by buyer and seller, you need to schedule a home inspection. Be sure that your contract indicates that the purchase is pending the results of a home inspection.

There are many home inspectors around. You can ask a friend, relative, or your Realtor for recommendations. Also search the Internet for local inspectors. The inspection should be completed by a certified or licensed home inspector. The cost is anywhere from $250 and up depending on the size of the home and the type of inspections performed. Also, plan to pay for this out of your own pocket up front as the buyer.

The purpose of the home inspection is to determine if the home has any potential or existing problems. It also gives you peace of mind knowing if there are any issues before you buy. You should be at the inspection with the inspector. The inspector can show and explain any problems that might be harder if you only received a written report. Most inspections take at least an hour and sometimes longer. In addition to seeing everything first hand with the inspector, you generally receive a written report with photos following the inspection.

What is typically included in an inspection? A home inspector will check the home structure, the water situation, as well as heating and electrical. You should also plan to get a separate termite and wood destroying organisms inspection from a pest control company. This is usually done for free and can be scheduled at the same time as the home inspection.

In Florida some other inspections that are offered are homeowner insurance inspections such as a 4 point insurance inspection, roofing certification inspection, and a wind mitigation inspection. These may have additional costs.

After the inspection is complete you can determine if you still want to go ahead with the purchase of the home. If there are problems that are too costly, then you can terminate the contract. An inspection can save you several thousands of dollars down the road, but again it also gives you peace of mind.

Tammy Hayes, Realtor, Sandals Realty, Punta Gorda, FL - tammyhayesre@gmail.com

Absolutely !
We sell brand new luxury homes and 'everyone' has an inspection. It's amazing that even after our contractors finish their puch lists a good inspector can still find some minor issues - which we are happy to address.

Having a home inspection done is more than worth the expense. Not only will a good home inspector tell you about current issues; he'll will also advise you of potential areas that you will have to address as time goes by. Home inspectors should be uses by everyone especially first time home buyers who are new to the mechanics of home ownership.

Inspections are definitely worth time and money. Especially for the buyer. The most important piece is to make sure the inspectors speaks to the realtor and the buyer and explains the process as he goes through the property. An home inspector who just hands the buyer a 10 page report at the end of the process is just a deal-killer.

Without question, yes. There could be so many hidden issues, it is probably best to look at it as a form of insurance. As illustrated in some of the responses here, you could save yourself thousands of dollars in repairs. The piece of mind is worth every penny......

Hi John,

I saw that most answers were posted by agents and home inspectors, so I thought I'd share my experience as a first time home buyer! I just purchased a home in Lakewood, and following our agent's advice (and our intuition), we got a traditional home inspection and our sewer line inspected. Turned out there was an issue with he sewer and the seller paid to get it fixed... So our inspections saved us from making a $2,000 sewer repair! I would recommend to EVERYONE- GET YOUR HOME INSPECTED!!!


Dana
First Time Home Buyer

It's like asking if insurance is worth the money after you've crashed your car. Knowing is power and it is in every situation worth the money. I recommend inspections on new construction when most people feel comfortable with the builder's warranty. Good responses and good question.

This is a great post. I think that way too many times buyers only look at the monthly mortgage payment and fail to account for everything else that goes with home ownership.

Principal, interest, taxes and insurance are just the beginning. Whether your a first-time buyer or thinking about moving up, you should plan for extra costs that could add up to thousands each year. Give yourself the piece of mind and get a home inspection.

If you use a reputable company to do them, yes.

Even though I've bought homes without them I would error on the side of caution and get one especially in an area you are not familiar with such as relocating. There are many different issues that can arise from different geographic factors such as ocean front versus mountain living.
Angela
Property Pros of America

Is there anyone here thats not a Inspector or getting a referral fee from one?

2 words:

Yes, they-are-absolutely-critical-in-buying-a-home!

Too often we'll hear stories of this step being skipped on buyers falling prey to all kinds of issues that would have been uncovered early in the process. Don't skimp on this at all.

Alan Strange, Team Leader

The Strange Team
Keller Williams Preferred Realty
Phone: 303.668.5208
Corporate Office: 303.452.3300
Web: http://www.TheStrangeTeam.com

I would qualify the answer with “A Home Inspection should be worth the money!” The biggest caveat to answering your question being the qualifications and ability of the home inspector. It’s in your best interest to find and select a qualified home inspector your are comfortable with choosing based on comparable qualifying criteria.

Some states have minimal standards and requirements for home inspectors and some do not. Even with state requirements, you still need to qualify your choice in home inspectors to best ensure you are getting your money’s worth. Also, your Realtor may have some or one home inspector referral, it’s still in your best interest to screen and qualify that home inspector. Don’t assume the nicest Realtor is going to refer the best qualified inspector.

Consider this; you are relying on the professional opinion, the observation skills, technical knowledge and communication skills of someone you may interact with for only a few hours at most, in order to make an informed and confident purchase decision on a home. Are you willing to compromise your time to qualify and fee to hire a reliable and qualified home inspector professional?

Here’s are two scary, yet very real considerations:
• For states that don’t have home inspector requirements, such as Colorado, your home inspector could have NO qualifications, have served in prison for federal offense and received a Certified Home Inspector credential from the internet. And you could be hiring that person to enter another person’s home unattended. Then relying on their “professional opinion” to make a home purchase decision.
• General Liability insurance. If your inspector doesn’t carry it or an adequate coverage, YOU are generally liable since you are hiring the inspector to go on someone else’s property. What if something is stolen or damaged? Are you prepare to carry the liability because the home inspector you hired isn’t?
Fortunately, there are a few simple questions you can ask to help ensure you are getting one of the many well qualified and reputable professional home inspectors.

Questions To Ask When Choosing A Qualified Home Inspector:
1. Do they carry general liability and errors & omission (E&O) insurance?
2. What, if any, standard of practice do they base their inspections (e.g., American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI)?
3. What kind of certification, if any? ASHI Certified inspectors is the only third-party accredited certification. Some are simple online internet or correspondence courses.
4. What source & level of training, experience & education do they have?
5. How much time do they typically spend on an inspection?
6. What additional inspection techniques and tools do they use?
7. Are they impartial (e.g., independent of anyone with a financial interest in the results except the client)? Did they pay or compensate some way for the referral?
8. How do they present results? Are clients encouraged to attend the inspection?
9. What do their clients say? Do they guarantee client satisfaction?
10. How much is the fee and what is it based on? Is it competitive for the services and qualifications provided?
11. How do their qualifications compare to the price?

I hope this helps. Also see my blog (http://id-inspections.blogspot.com/) that goes into some more detail on Choosing A Qualified Homes Inspector and or our web site (http://www.id-inspections.com) for Downloadable a Worksheet to compare home inspectors with this qualifying criteria

A resounding yes and I like everyone recommend that you find a certified home inspector that is affiliated with either Nachi or Ashi. All inspectors are not the same so make sure that when you're compairing home inspectors you ask them the same questions so you can compare the answers better. Sometimes the cheapest is not the best.

Penny wise and pound foolish I think would be the cliche.

Provided you hire a certified inspector, it's worth every penny. A reputable inspector will stand behind his/her inspection should a defect be found upon taking possession. You may also want to consider purchasing a home warranty if it was not provided by Seller. In negotating the terms and conditions of an offer, you mighty ask the Seller to provide a one year home warranty at closing.

Without a doubt yes. The only exception could be new construction, but even then an inspection can fidn something (termites? etc) besides, if you are buying a house for thousands of dollars, home inspection is probably not the place to save a bit.

New construction comes with state warrantees, but it wouldn't hurt, its only about $400.

YES, every dime spent ... only way to purchase a home. Even on new construction.

Yes, absolutely. I have had some home buyers who do two home inspections so they can weigh and compare the information given by the different inspectors and make decisions from there if they want to bring in a specialist to look at an area that may have been flagged as a possible problem by one or both. Maybe overly cautious, but another scenario that I have had is when clients do the home inspection during attorney review.