by Marcia Sawyer

Created on: December 20, 2008   Last Updated: December 24, 2008

You are in the midst of purchasing a home. Your agent has shown you the home of your dreams and you are in love. You know the number of bedrooms, baths, height of the ceilings, size of the home, year of construction, and boundaries of the lot, among other things. You are satisfied with the distance from your job, the school ranking in the district, and the fact that you are near friends. What else is there to consider? Why all the talk about a home inspection?

Believe it or not, your most important considerations will be things that do not readily meet the eye. When purchasing a home, it is important that you know more about the home than just what you see. You will need a home inspection. A home inspection will give you more details than an agent, who may point out things to you like water stains on the ceiling, uneven flooring, rotten gutters, or leaks in the basement. When purchasing a home, you will need to know about structural problems, the heating and air conditioning systems, the electrical wiring, any corrosion, and problems with the roofing, to name a few things. These are some of the things that a home inspection searches out for you.

So, how do you find an inspector? Your agent should be able to make several recommendations, as they are accustomed to dealing with inspectors on a regular basis. If you know people who recently purchased a home, you may ask them for the names of their home inspectors, if they were satisfied. You may also do a search on the internet for home inspectors in your area. Purchasing a home is an important step, so it is highly recommended that you get a home inspection instead of just having a friend or family member, with no construction experience to look at the home for you.

If you are purchasing a home of new construction, it is of utmost importance that you have a home inspection. Most builders will require that the home inspectors have a certain level of certification and also carry insurance at maximum liability. Builders usually respond better to changes or corrections needed when sited code violations by home inspectors than they do when someone who is purchasing a home tells them they are dissatisfied with the construction and want changes.

On the day of your home inspection, the inspector will require that the utilities are working. This is necessary in order for the inspector to check the electrical, plumbing and heating systems. When purchasing a home, it is also advisable that the buyer be in attendance during the inspection. This gives the inspector the opportunity to explain to the person purchasing a home about any repairs that are minor or major. If this is the buyer's first home, this one-on-one consultation can be invaluable. The inspection should take at least two to three hours.

When purchasing a home, it is essential that buyers use due diligence. A home inspection will provide great enlightenment.

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