Are you in the process of moving to Dublin? If so, you are likely hoping to do a home inspection before purchasing real estate in Dublin, CA. Maybe you’re selling your home and hoping to receive a worthy offer.
Whatever your specific circumstances, a home inspection is an important piece of the home buying and selling process. As a seller, you may be surprised at the number of items listed on a home inspection report. Don’t worry — it’s the inspector's job to find as much as possible to help the buyer make the best decision.
So, what is a home inspection?
A home inspection is an investigation of a home’s bones, including the exterior spaces and any other buildings on the property. The purpose of a home inspection is to find issues with the home that need immediate or future repair. The home inspector aims to give the buyer an understanding of the home as a whole from the foundation of the home itself to the outdoor spaces, garages, and annexes.
How do I find a home inspector?
A home inspection is typically administered by a professional home inspector. Laws regarding this can vary from state to state. If you’re looking for real estate in Dublin, CA, you should know that it is not imperative that an inspector have a license. However, as the buyer, it’s in your best interest to find someone who knows their stuff, license or not.
If you’re using a realtor to find a home, reach out and ask who they might recommend. Who else do you trust? Chances are family, friends, and co-workers have gone through an inspection or two when purchasing their own home. Why not ask them who they would recommend?
Once you have a few options, call and ask questions. You will start to get a feel for who you can trust after a few questions. The team at Angi’s List is in the business of crowdsourcing the best opinions for any service. Check out their detailed list of questions to ask before hiring a home inspector. You may also want to ask if the inspector checks other structures on the property including additional buildings or garages. It’s important to make sure you trust your home inspector to give you the best insight into the health of your home.
If you’re using a realtor to find a home, reach out and ask who they might recommend. Who else do you trust? Chances are family, friends, and co-workers have gone through an inspection or two when purchasing their own home. Why not ask them who they would recommend?
Once you have a few options, call and ask questions. You will start to get a feel for who you can trust after a few questions. The team at Angi’s List is in the business of crowdsourcing the best opinions for any service. Check out their detailed list of questions to ask before hiring a home inspector. You may also want to ask if the inspector checks other structures on the property including additional buildings or garages. It’s important to make sure you trust your home inspector to give you the best insight into the health of your home.
What should I do during the inspection?
Come to the inspection armed with questions. Is there something you saw while viewing the property that gave you pause? Ask the inspector to check it out!
Is the home in a historical area? Maybe you’ll want to ask about the foundation, the pipes, and the general structure of the home, including any known issues with potential lead or asbestos if the home was built before 1975. You may also encourage the inspector to inspect the wiring in the home so you are privy to any potential fire hazards or other electrical issues.
Historical home or not, you should always ask about big ticket items in the home so you are armed with knowledge about the expenses you might have up front and in the future. High-cost items include HVAC, the roof, wiring, foundation, and the hot water heater, to name a few. The inspector will typically be able to give you information regarding the age and potential lifespan of these items. This way you can plan for a future replacement of these items should they need it during your time as the homeowner.
Speaking up is the best thing you can do for yourself during a home inspection. No question is a silly question, and home inspectors have heard them all. Forbes also encourages buyers to ask about the intangibles of the property — things like neighbors, the neighborhood traffic, and noise.
Is the home in a historical area? Maybe you’ll want to ask about the foundation, the pipes, and the general structure of the home, including any known issues with potential lead or asbestos if the home was built before 1975. You may also encourage the inspector to inspect the wiring in the home so you are privy to any potential fire hazards or other electrical issues.
Historical home or not, you should always ask about big ticket items in the home so you are armed with knowledge about the expenses you might have up front and in the future. High-cost items include HVAC, the roof, wiring, foundation, and the hot water heater, to name a few. The inspector will typically be able to give you information regarding the age and potential lifespan of these items. This way you can plan for a future replacement of these items should they need it during your time as the homeowner.
Speaking up is the best thing you can do for yourself during a home inspection. No question is a silly question, and home inspectors have heard them all. Forbes also encourages buyers to ask about the intangibles of the property — things like neighbors, the neighborhood traffic, and noise.
What should I expect after the home inspection?
After the home inspection, the inspector will send a thorough report detailing any issues discovered within the home. Typically the report will also include any other buildings, garages, barns or sheds, annexes, and outdoor spaces on the property. It should also detail any issues discovered with those structures as well. If it does not, you may want to ask about these buildings and see if there is a way to have those included in the report. Remember, once you purchase the home, you are responsible for everything on the property, so you’ll want to understand any and all issues.
It is important to remember that home inspectors are in the business of finding and reporting as many issues with the home as they can find. This can be as simple as chipped paint to as dangerous and costly as bad wiring or a leaky roof. If the report is lengthy, don’t stress. Most of the issues with the home will require simple fixes.
The most important items to look for on a home inspection report are those that will affect the foundational integrity of the home. These include cracks in the walls, uneven floors, leaning porch or stairs, and gaps around window frames or bricks. You’ll also want to look out for water damage, plumbing issues or roof damage as the roof is a high-cost item to replace. Lastly, keep an eye out for any electrical problems or insect and pest infestations as these could spell danger for your family as a fire or health hazard.
If you are thinking of moving to Dublin you are not alone. The market is ranked by Redfin as one of the most competitive markets in the country. However, this doesn’t mean you should cut corners and forgo a home inspection. A home inspection can potentially save you thousands in the long run so make sure to do your due diligence.
If the competitive real estate in Dublin, CA has you down, reach out to trusted agent Prema Subramanium for help. Prema has years of experience helping those moving to Dublin find their perfect home. Whether you are buying or selling, she is here to offer no-nonsense advice about the entire home buying process.
It is important to remember that home inspectors are in the business of finding and reporting as many issues with the home as they can find. This can be as simple as chipped paint to as dangerous and costly as bad wiring or a leaky roof. If the report is lengthy, don’t stress. Most of the issues with the home will require simple fixes.
The most important items to look for on a home inspection report are those that will affect the foundational integrity of the home. These include cracks in the walls, uneven floors, leaning porch or stairs, and gaps around window frames or bricks. You’ll also want to look out for water damage, plumbing issues or roof damage as the roof is a high-cost item to replace. Lastly, keep an eye out for any electrical problems or insect and pest infestations as these could spell danger for your family as a fire or health hazard.
If you are thinking of moving to Dublin you are not alone. The market is ranked by Redfin as one of the most competitive markets in the country. However, this doesn’t mean you should cut corners and forgo a home inspection. A home inspection can potentially save you thousands in the long run so make sure to do your due diligence.
If the competitive real estate in Dublin, CA has you down, reach out to trusted agent Prema Subramanium for help. Prema has years of experience helping those moving to Dublin find their perfect home. Whether you are buying or selling, she is here to offer no-nonsense advice about the entire home buying process.
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