Why Choose a Home Inspector?

As an Edmonton Realtor who helps numerous people in Edmonton and surrounding buy their home in a smart, satisfying and successful way, I’m often asked whether it’s a good idea (or not a good idea) to use a Home Inspector. My answer to that is always the same: it’s not just a good idea, it’s a GREAT one! And here’s why:

Buying a new home is typically the biggest financial decision that an individual or couple will make in their lifetime – or at least in a 5-10 year period if they plan on transitioning into another home in the future. In other words, buying a home is a really BIG DEAL and so making mistakes can be extraordinarily costly – we’re talking tens of thousands of dollars, and sometimes even more than that!

And while it’s not accurate to say that a Home Inspection can reduce all of the home buying risk – since there are other key factors to consider, such as location and so on – it’s certainly true in my in-depth experience in the Edmonton real estate market that a home inspection really helps reduce the risk.

In a nutshell, here are the key reasons how a Home Inspector can help you make the right decision:

• A Home Inspector is not "emotionally attached" to a home. As such, he or she can take an objective look at the home and not get distracted by visions of how great it would be to live there. Indeed, while this may seem like a minor point and not really worth mentioning, in my experience it’s a BIG factor! Objectivity is really important when making a wise decision.







• A Home Inspector will spot both major and minor repairs. Again, this is something that may seem obvious on the surface, but if you dig deeper it’s much more than you think. Yes, some (but sadly, not all) sellers will reveal the major repairs that their home needs – such as a new roof, a new furnace, and so on. Or, if you have some handyman/renovating experience or check out a home with a friend who has such experience, you may easily be able to detect the major problems. But it’s the minor ones that you also want to pay attention to! They may not seem like much – a dripping faucet, some seemingly minor water damage on the ceiling, inefficient gutters, and so on – but they can turn a home buying experience into a costly, aggravating nightmare pretty quickly. A Home Inspector looks at BOTH major and minor issues.







• A Home Inspector gives you "proof" that certain repairs need to be done, and you can then use this during your negotiation with the seller. You can, for example, ask that the repairs be made before the house is sold. Or you can build in the cost of repairs to your offer (by reducing the offering price). Frankly, it’s much more professional and good for ethical negotiations to have a formal Home Inspection done, along with prices for repairs, than it is to "guess" at what things will cost. Often, sellers and buyers can be thousands of dollars apart. And sometimes, they won’t even agree that something needs to be fixed! A home inspection helps bridge that gap so that honest sellers and honest buyers can enjoy a fair, win-win transaction.







• A Home Inspector helps prospective buyers understand what future maintenance issues they may face – even if no repairs need to be done. For example, a home inspection will identify how easy or difficult it is to replace filter, where the breaker panels are, where the clothes dryer is venting, and other details that will determine if a house is an "easy to maintain" or "difficult to maintain" one. Indeed, this is information that buyers want to know before they purchase the house!

Really, when you consider how BIG of an investment buying a home is --regardless if it’s your first home or your fifth -- getting a Home Inspection simply makes sense. It’ll help you ensure that the home of your dreams isn’t going to turn into a maintenance or repair nightmare in the future. That’s the kind of peace of mind you deserve, and the financial protection you need when it comes to buying a house.





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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:





My name is Chris Proctor, and I am a Realtor with Realty Executives - Devonshire Realty in Edmonton. I specialize in helping Edmonton home buyers find a great home that meets their needs, budget and goals. Search Edmonton MLS homes and condos here.