The Most Important Thing to Check When Buying a Home
By Jim Troth
When buying a home there are a lot of issues to consider. Such as the location of the home and how that relates to your work and recreational activities you may have. The most important thing to check when buying a home is the condition of the home. This is also a very broad concept to get a handle on.
The most commonly areas of a home that homes buyers have expressed to me as being the areas they are most concerned with are the roof, the foundation, termites.
The roof is the largest and most visible area that buyers are concerned with. Often the concern is expressed in that the buyers want to know if the roof has several years of life expected. Everyone is aware that every roof will need to be replaced at some point in time. They just want to have an idea as to when that will be and they hope that will not very soon after purchasing it.
The foundation is another area of large concern. Home buyers want to be assured that the home will not experience the basement wall or foundation crumbling in. Foundations can be very costly to repair. Having this concern is very understandable. If the home is on a crawl space the foundation can be large unknown area until a certified home inspector enters that space and looks it over. Hopefully the home inspector hired uses a camera and is therefore able to take pictures to help the buyer see the area and any issues observable.
Termites and wood destroying insects are another frequent concern of buyers. Termites can cause large amounts of damage if allowed to live freely at a home long enough. It is important to have a termite / wood destroying insect inspection to catch these insects early. There are always areas that cannot be seen so it is recommended that this inspection be conducted yearly. No one can see through solid block walls or though insulation or drywall. Because of this it is important to look at least yearly to catch them as early as possible. If your home inspector is also licensed to conduct termite inspections then having them do it as part of the whole home inspection may get yourself a discount.
What a buyer decides is the most important area for them varies. A roofer buying a home understands the importance of a roof, however it may not be that large of a concern for them because they can fix or replace it themselves easily. Whatever your concerns are when buying a home be certain to express this to the home inspector and be there at the home inspection to ask questions as needed.
Jim Troth is a full time home inspector in Ohio and the Education Coordinator for InterNachi Ohio. He has grown his home inspection business during the downturn of real estate. He attributes the growth to excellent customer service and referrals from satisfied clients. He provides home inspections in the Columbus, Hilliard, Powell, Pickerington, Pataskala, New Albany, Delaware, Gahanna, Westerville, Galloway, Grove City, Worthington, Dublin, Marysville, London, Mechanicsburg and other cities surrounding Columbus, Ohio. His home inspection company is Habitation Investigation LLC. The website is: http://www.homeinspectionsinohio.com
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