What You Should Know About Home Inspections

Since obtaining a home inspection is one of the most important steps in purchasing a home, I thought I'd take the opportunity to provide some insight into the home inspection process.

A qualified inspector can point out potential costly problems with the home you are considering buying, and a good inspector will give maintenance advice and ultimately give you peace of mind about your home investment. All home buyers -- whether they are buying an older home or building a new one -- should have the home inspected by a professional after making an offer and before closing.

There are a few things you need to know before hiring a home inspector. First, the home inspection industry is becoming more professional and regulated. There are professional organizations with codes of ethics, like the National Association of Home Inspectors and the American Society of Home Inspectors, but membership is voluntary.

The average home inspection costs $300, which is paid on the day the inspector examines your home. Lower or higher fees do not necessarily reflect the expertise of the inspector. Finding an experienced home inspector who provides value for your money is most important.

The American Society of Home Inspectors (www.ashi.com) recommends interviewing at least three professional inspectors in order to find one you trust and with whom you communicate well. I can provide a list of local home inspectors for you to interview, and you should ask friends and family members for recommendations as well.

Ask inspectors about their qualifications. Do they have experience in the construction or engineering industry? Do they have special training or accreditation from a professional organization? How long have they been inspecting homes in the local area? Are they familiar with problems specific to our area like drainage issues, pests or building material failures?

Once you have found a qualified professional, it's important that you attend the inspection with me and your home inspector. Some buyers like to climb into the crawl space and attic with the inspector to look at the home's major systems. At a minimum, be on site to ask questions, examine the problem areas and learn about the ongoing maintenance your home will need.

The standard home inspector's report will review the condition of the home's heating, plumbing and electrical systems. The report will also include information about the structure including the foundation and basement, as well as the roof, attic, walls, ceilings, floors, windows and doors. It may include photos of problem areas or recommendations for repairs.

Interested in Multifamily or Duplex as an owner occupant or investment? Click here

Georgetown Active Adult Communities - Click Here

Acreage or Equestrian Communities

• Whitetail Estates
• Stone House Estates
• Gabriels Overlook
• 485 Acres, Leander ETJ
• 284 Acres, East of Austin
• 373 Acres, East of Austin
• 13 Acres in Kyle
• Georgetown Home on 5 Acres

 Automated Property Search: This website provides a great property search, but you still need to come back and search again and again to stay on top of the market. Now there's a better way. Sign up for the Automated Property Search and let the system run the searchs for you. No obligation, no cost, no spam. 

Subscribe to new: Residential Listings  or  Commercial Listing

Build Your Home on the North San Gabriel River

Stone House Estates features: Acreage lots, Ideal for Horses, River Frontage, Click Here 

The Fountians at Georgetown South - Professional Office Condos for sale or lease. Visit www.GeorgetownCommercial.com

Real Estate & Business News

• CNBC's Top States For Business 2010—And The Winner Is Texas
• Formula 1 Grand Prix coming to Austin
• Beware of Scammers
• Why Texas May Lead the Nation's Turnaround
• National Real Estate News
• Real Estate Videos For Your Location 
• Austin Real Estate Market Conditions
• Business Journal
• Texas Market Reports 
• Community Impact
• Hill Country News
• Austin American Statesman
• Texas A&M Real Estate Center
• Bob's Blog on Active Rain 
• Bob's Blog on Google
• Monthly Newsletter 

Sold 212 Las Colinas

Want to know your homes value? Click Here

Buyers - Helpful Information

Sellers - Helpful Information

Sedlor Properties: Georgetown TX Homes Commercial Real Estate, Georgetown TX Residential Real Estate, Sun City TX Homes, Austin Real Estate and Austin area Land and Lots, Surrounding areas:

This website was designed to be a comprehensive source of residential and commercial real estate and area information. Please explore and bookmark it, and visit it often. As always, your feedback and suggestions for ways to improve the content or layout is appreciated. Contact Information

Sold - Whitetail Subdivision

Facing Foreclosure - there may be a better way. Click Here

Link Exchange Partners