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Don’t forget about the appliances when you are doing a home inspection.
Imagine this: You are the proud owner of an old home. After unloading your moving van, you start packing the cardboard boxes holding your dishes. Then you decide to load the dishwasher. It’s full, you add detergent, and it’s gone.
It would have been nice if you had included the appliance on your home inspection list. Protect yourself when you are buying a home or inheriting old appliances and systems. Here are four tips for buyers about home inspection in Gadsden AL:
Be on site.
It is important to be present during the inspection, according to Deb Tomaro, Re/Max Acclaimed Properties’ broker associate in Bloomington, Indiana. A home inspection is more than protecting your investment. It’s about making sure that you don’t buy something with serious problems. It is also about how to maintain and improve your home and how to plan for future repairs and replacements.
Participating in the home inspection will allow you to get to know the details and answer questions about the condition and quality of the appliances.
Tomaro states, “A large part of smart home ownership involves educating yourself about the home.” “The home inspection is the first class of that education.”
Be vocal.
John Mease, professional home inspector and member of the American Society of Home Inspectors, Georgia, says, “Remember that your boss is you.” “Without the buyer none of us would be able to have a job.”
Talk to anyone you have about the property as you walk through it.
He says, “Ask questions until your confidence and comfort levels are high.” “If the representative is unable to answer your questions at a level that you are comfortable with, find another one.”
Keep in mind the limitations of inspectors.
Mease states, “An inspector can’t predict the future.” Mease says that inspectors can and should inform buyers when appliances are nearing, at, or beyond their original lifespan. An exterior AC unit should last 10-12 years in Atlanta, while a standard gas furnace should be able to last 15-20 years.
Although local home inspectors can give an estimate of the expected life span of appliances in a given area, it is not a guarantee. Inspectors cannot perform any tests beyond the normal demands of an appliance.
“Example: An inspector cannot electrically ‘jump the furnace’ to make it run in the attic. The thermostat is the only control he can use.
Negotiate a home warranty.
Mease states that homeowners can buy a home warranty, just as they have homeowner’s insurance and health insurance. A home warranty can be a powerful tool for protecting new homeowners. The scope of a home warranty can be varied.
One can be negotiated into the offer for the house. Tomaro says that it will have an impact on the bottom line of sellers and that they will take this into consideration. To negotiate a home warranty into your offer, you should expect to pay about $500. It might be worth it for peace of mind and savings.
Quick Answers: Four Tips to Avoid Unexpected Surprises in Your New Home
- Be on site
- Be vocal
- Keep in mind the limitations of inspectors
- You can negotiate a home warranty
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