Article by Patrick McCarren Local Realtor & Broker

Understanding Home Inspections

Purchasing your home is one of the biggest thrills of your life, but it can also quickly become overwhelming. Whether you are buying a new or a resale home it is important that you look underneath the staging, perfect fl oor-plan, or location and see what may be hiding that could impact your dream home and pocketbook. Enter the home inspector. A home inspector performs a basic physical inspection of the structure and systems of your prospective home. This means that while you may love the beauty of the living room’s wood fl oors, your inspector can tell if the fl oor will truly last. The home inspection is an objective visual examination of the physical structure and systems of a home, from roof to foundation. The inspection will determine not only the present condition of the home, but also help foresee any immediate or future necessary additional costs that may go unnoticed by the untrained eye. Home inspections start at around $500 depending generally on the size of the home. I believe it’s money well spent. A standard home inspector’s report will cover the basic condition of the home’s heating system; central air conditioning system (temperature permitting); interior plumbing and electrical systems; visual of the roof, visual of the attic and insulation; walls, ceilings, fl oors, windows and doors; the foundation, basement and structural components. I have always viewed a home inspection much like a visit to the doctor for a physical from a general practitioner, if there are any problems or concerns you are referred to a specialist such as a cardiologist. A home inspection works in a similar manner, if there is a concern about the foundation you are recommended to a structural engineer, plumbing to a plumber etc. The inspection will show the positive and negative aspects of a home, as well as the maintenance that will be necessary to keep it in good shape. After an inspection you should have a much clearer understanding of the value and needs of the property. I think it is important to note that even if a house needs repairs, it shouldn’t always be the cause for getting out of a sale. No house is perfect and as long as you know ahead of time what needs to be done and are comfortable with the cost and possibly the ramifi cations, knowing about an issue before closing gives you the peace of mind before you close or often make an offer. The home inspection can give you a great starter list of what needs to be done to really make moving in that much easier. Don’t be shy about asking questions and getting a clear understanding. I would like to note that home inspectors are not licensed or certifi ed by the State so do your research to make sure your inspector is qualifi ed. I recommend that they are members of an association with certifi cation criteria and a standard of practice such as ASHI.

Patrick McCarran is a local Realtor and Broker. Call/text 925-899-5536 • pmccarran@yahoo.com • CallPatrick.com Independently owned and operated. Equal Housing Opportunity. In association with Realty One Group Elite DRE#0193160.

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