Home Inspections

So you finally found the home of your dreams in Westchester County. It has the right number of bedrooms, the attached garage and in a great neighborhood. You have looked the home over inside and out. You saw the freshly painted walls, new carpeting, beautiful cabinets and the great backyard. What are you missing? Usually people forget the plumbing, heating, A/C, electrical, insulation, ventilation, the structure and the roof. People usually over look these items because they know so little about them or what to look for. You've now made the offer on the house.

What happens next? Don't forget to have the home inspected. The realtor should have covered the clause in the contract when you signed it. Your offer is contingent upon a home inspection, and you only have a certain amount of time to get it done, or you take the house "as is". This clause will permit you to have an unbiased professional look at every part of the home which most people don't look at. They will look at all the working parts of the home such as the plumbing, the attic, and the basement just to mention a few.

After the home inspection you will be given the opportunity to renegotiate the buying price of the home depending on the information given in the home inspection, or it will make you aware of the exact condition of the home should you decide to purchase it. The seller's disclosure statement is nice and chances are good, the seller is honest, however the seller of the home is not always aware of some of the problems the home might have, because he or she is not aware of them either.

You can ask you realtor for a list of home inspectors in the Westchester area. You can also check the Internet, the phone directory and brochures from the realtors lobby. The majority of home inspectors have their own web site so you can go online where you are able to read the services they offer. Call a few of them to see what you think; get a feel for whom you think might be a quality home inspector. The realtor may offer to hire one for you. Make sure the home inspector hired by the realtor has your best interests at heart should you choose for the realtor to hire one for you. Just keep in mind this is your money and your investment.

When you decide to start shopping around for your home inspector there is some important information you will want to know about the inspector you are considering. Is he or she a licensed inspector by the state? New York is a state, which requires licensing of home inspectors. Make sure to get the inspector's license number. Is he or she affiliated with any home inspection organizations? If they are affiliated with any home inspection organizations, they are bound by a code of ethics to follow very strict rules to maintain their memberships. The best organization is the National Association of Certified Home Inspectors.

How long will the inspection take? For a thorough inspection of your prospective home it will take at least 2+ hours. Anything less, they are likely missing something and not giving you a quality inspection. What type of home inspection report does the inspector use? There are three different ways for the home inspector to generate you a report. You will want a narrative. The inspector will have had time to go over it once or twice before sending it out.

What is his or her experience and background? Most home inspectors will have started out in the construction industry. If the inspector tells you he started out in retail, you may want to keep looking. How much does he or she charge for an inspection? An average home inspection will run from $485 and up, but it does depend on the size of the home. So if you are buying an extremely large home, you should expect to pay more. Most quality home inspectors will ask you to accompany them as they make their inspection, which is probably a good idea. It gives you the opportunity to see everything he does and you have the opportunity to ask questions. This is the opportunity you will have to find the location of the shut-off valves; the breaker panel and you can even get tips of routine maintenance items.

One of the best things you can do for yourself is to have the home you are considering for purchase to be professionally inspected by a quality home inspector, or if you are thinking of putting up your home for sale. This is your lifelong investment whether you are buying or selling your home. It is a choice you do not want to make lightly.