It is a very good idea to hire a home inspector before purchasing a home. Typically it only costs a couple hundred dollars but can save you money by pointing out repairs that need made before you are stuck with them.

Here are some questions to ask before hiring the home inspector:
   1. How long have you been practicing?
   2. Are you specifically experienced in residential inspection?
   3. How long does the typical inspection take you?
   4. How much do you charge?
   5. Can I be present during the inspection?
   6. Are you a member of any professional associations?

The Partnership for Advancing Technology in Housing (PATH) suggests asking at least the following questions during the inspection:
   1. Is the house well insulated?
   2. What is the condition of the foundation? Is it sinking?
   3. Are the roof and all of its components in good shape?
   4. Are the joists, beams, and other structural elements in good condition?
   5. Is there any termite damage?
   6. Are the pipes and plumbing systems in good condition?
   7. What is the condition of the wiring?
   8. Is the furnace efficient, clean and running properly?
   9. Is there a mold or a moisture problem in the house?

Once you have these questions answered, it will give you a better idea of if you really want the house. From there you can draw up a purchase agreement that states which repairs must be made and the amount of reductions in asking price to fix problems.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, March 4th, 2008 at 4:37 pm and is filed under A Day in the Life of a Stager, Local News, Real Estate Resource. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.