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Do I Need a Home Inspection?
By Ann Smith
Exercising due diligence is imperative before closing a sale. Buying a
house comes with an endless list of decisions. The house you’ve chosen may
be perfect in all factors – the right location, an updated kitchen, and the
number of bedrooms to fit your family – but you can’t overlook the value of
a professional home inspection.
Before
you finalize the deal, include a contingency to your offer based upon a
satisfactory professional inspection. It can be done in a matter of
hours, depending on the size and complexity of the property, and will give
you peace of mind in knowing you have made a good choice. And the cost,
only a few hundred dollars, can save you exponentially in the long run.
Moving
can be stressful and you don’t want to wake up to discover that the
plumbing in the new ensuite was installed incorrectly. Or that the “newer”
roof leaks above your bed.
Shop for a qualified
home inspector by asking for referrals from your Realtor or from family and
friends – but don’t make the mistake of choosing on price alone.
A qualified home
inspector routinely deals with a plethora of properties – from just-built
to heritage classics – and in varying states of maintenance or
deterioration. Homes with hidden defects, even if they have been cleverly
concealed, will be revealed so you can be assured you know what you’re
getting into. Everything from the foundation to the roof will be examined
and you’ll know up front if/when things need to be done.
Once you receive a
detailed report, you can make an informed decision to sign off on the
contingency or demand that needed work be completed…and both sides of the
bargaining table will breathe a little easier.
For more information, visit the
Ontario Association of Home Inspectors.
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