Now that you've found a house you're interested in purchasing, the next step is to make sure that everything is in order both inside and outside the house. In this post, we'll go over a series of questions you should ask your home inspector during the inspection. These questions will help you get a good idea of property condition.
Remember that you're paying for a service when you have a home inspector come by. Don't be shy about asking questions. Most home inspectors expect their customers to ask a lot of questions.
Question #1 - Have the Foundations Checked
Most buyers know to ask the inspector about the foundations. While this is an important question to ask, do keep in mind that the inspector can only tell you about what he sees. He cannot tell you if there are termites in the wood without a proper termite inspection. Rotting wood or water damage that's hidden is difficult to spot as well. The inspector can tell you what he thinks based on what's visible, but usually not much more.
Question #2 - Electrical
What condition is the electrical system in? Are there any panels or wiring that's done unprofessionally? Is there any knob and tube wiring or any aluminum wiring in the house?
Question #3 - The Heating System
The heating system should always be inspected. It's important to ask about what kind of equipment you have, how old it is, how much longer you can expect it to last, etc.
Question #4 - The Plumbing System
Make sure your inspector checks the plumbing system and tells you how old the system is. Check for signs of recent issues, such as a new sewer cap.
Question #5 - Are there any potential fire hazards?
Safety is a prime concern when buying a home. With older electrical or heating systems, there may be potential fire hazards that you should be aware of. Make sure you ask about fire hazards if the property is an older home.
These are some of the more important questions to ask a home inspector during a home inspection. Again, remember that you're hiring this person for a paid service, so don't hesitate to make full use of their expertise.
There is a lot of free information available to you about buying, selling or investing in The Woodlands. For complete information about the The Woodlands real estate market including current homes for sale, property values and more please visit the most complete website online dedicated to everything about The Woodlands real estate at . Please feel free to contact me with any of your real estate or mortgage related questions and I will be more than glad to answer your questions. Call me toll-free at 866-276-8200 or email me at michele@MicheleFlory.com.
