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 Some
homes look beautiful, glistening with new paint, redolent with the
scent of new carpet and flooring. But, these cosmetic flourishes may
hide serious flaws that will come back to haunt you once the deal has
closed.
Ask the home inspector to check the structure, roof,
exterior, electrical, air conditioning units, plumbing and any
appliances.
Your real estate agent can recommend several
inspectors. The best are members of national professional
organizations such as the American Society of Home Inspectors.
Home inspectors are licensed to ensure expertise.
However, some may offer additional knowledge because they are licensed
general contractors as well. Check the inspector's references. Look
for someone thorough. Ask your real estate agent for copies of
inspections done for other buyers and contact them for
recommendations.
A contractor can tell you a lot about the structure of
a house, not only what is wrong with it and what needs to be fixed,
but what has been done incorrectly and whether your new home meets
area building codes.
The cost of a home inspection is usually based on the
square footage of the home and whether there is any extra crawl space
that needs looking at.
If serious repairs are necessary, most agents write
sales contracts that set aside a certain percentage of the purchase
price for repairs, a highly negotiable part of the sales contract.
Mike and Lynda Morgan are top producers in the
Pinecrest office of Arvida Realty Service. For more information or to
contact the Morgans, please call 305-235-3411 or send email to e-mailmmorgan321@aol.com.
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