If we compare the expense of an inspection to the cost of buying a home, it really isn’t that expensive after all! But too often, we still skip this step.
“You would never purchase a used car without hiring a knowledgeable mechanic to inspect it first. So why wouldn’t you do the same thing before making one of the most important investments of our life?” asks Jean-Claude Fillion, an architect who specializes in pre-purchase inspections.
“It’s important to know where you stand before buying a home,” he continues.
Before you sign on the dotted line, here are five good reasons to get a home inspection before you buy a house.
- Spot any obvious building defects
A building inspector conducts a careful visual examination of the main building to determine the physical condition of its systems and their components, as noted on the date of the inspection, and produces a report describing the Professional standards of practice for residential building inspection.
The building inspector is responsible for spotting any obvious defects, and any indicators or sources of potential problems, in order to provide buyers with the expert advice they need. And the building inspector knows exactly what to look for. Better still, a licenced inspector or member of a professional order, such as the Order of Architects of Québec, is required to do a thorough inspection. It is extremely difficult, if you’re not an expert, to distinguish between a minor crack, and a serious foundation crack.
Most houses have a history, wouldn’t it be helpful to learn more about them? And have an expert explain how serious they are, before any problems arise?
Want to know the 4 other reasons to get a home inspection before buying it? Discover the full article on our financial advice site.
Want to learn more about real estate? For more information or to make an appointment with a Mortgage Development Manager, please visit the Mortgage Financing Advisors section of our website.
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