Congratulations, you’re almost there! Your Orlando Realtor has just informed you that your offer has just been accepted. But wait!…. You’re not done yet.
It’s time to get your home inspected by a professional home inspector to make sure the house you’re about to buy doesn’t have any major defects that could end up costing you a small fortune down the road.
A typical home inspection should include the thorough inspection of the following:
- Central AC system
- Exterior and interior plumbing
- Electrical system
- Roof
- Foundation
- Insulation
- Floors, walls, ceilings
- Appliances
- Termites
Once the inspection is complete, the inspector will then write up a detailed report about their findings as well as recommended repairs to correct the problems that were found. Once you have the report, you can then negotiate the repairs with the seller to either subtract the cost from the sale price or determine some other way to fix the problems.
Whenever making an offer on a home, it’s super important to have a contingency clause in place. Here’s why…. If your home inspector finds $20,000 worth of needed repairs and the seller refuses to pay or subtract it from the sale price, then you have the right to rescind the offer.
That’s why paying a few hundred bucks for a home inspection is well worth the investment.
How Do You Find A Good Home Inspector in Orlando?
You can start by asking your Orlando Real Estate agent. Your agent should be able to provide you with a list of credible home inspectors in the area. And just like when you’re hiring a real estate agent, don’t just pick the first one you come across. Speak to a few home inspectors from the top search results and be sure to check their online reviews.
Here are a few questions you should ask a home inspector before hiring.
- What exactly is covered in your inspection? Make sure the inspection report provided will meet all applicable requirements from your lender.
- How many home inspections have you completed? Try to hire someone with at least a few hundred inspections under their belt.
- How long have you been inspecting homes? It’s recommended to hire someone with a lot of experience.
- What’s your area of expertise? The answer should be residential.
- How long will the inspection take? The inspector should take at least 2 hours to perform a thorough inspection of your home.
- What’s the price of the inspection? A typical home inspection should cost somewhere between $300-$500 depending on the size of the home.
- Will you provide me with a written report? Ask to see a sample report to make sure you understand it.
In addition to these interview questions, you should be present for the inspection if at all possible. By shadowing the inspector and asking questions, you’ll gain a lot of valuable information about the home and probably some great maintenance tips as well. If the inspector has a problem with you being there, then it’s time to find a new home inspector.
