Smart Home-Buying

Buying a home is one of the most important purchases you will make in your life span, so you should be sure that the home (house, condo, townhouse) you want to buy is in good situation. A home scrutiny is an appraisal of a home's situation by a skilled authority. During an sovereign home scrutiny, a trained overseer takes an in-depth and independent look at the property you plan to buy.

The home inspector will:

+ Appraise the physical condition: the structure, construction and mechanical systems.

+ Recognize items that should be repaired or replaced.

+ Guesstimate the remaining useful life of the major systems (such as electrical, plumbing, heating, air conditioning), equipment, structure and finishes.

After the scrutiny is complete, you will receive a written report of the findings from the home inspector, usually within 24 hours.

Finding a Qualified Independent Home Inspector

As the homebuyer, it is your responsibility to carefully select a qualified inspector. I stress that it is "your" responsibility, and not your agent's. After you purchase your new home, your agent will not be responsible for paying the unexpected repair costs that result from non-thorough home inspections. Any unexpected repair costs will be your responsibility.