As outlined in The Buying Process, a professional pre-purchase home inspection is the best way for potential home buyers to evaluate the condition of a property, and is strongly recommended. Certain properties might warrant further environmental or structural testing, and those are outlined in our Buying Country Homes page.
This inspection will alleviate the concern of being confronted with major and costly problems after you take possession of a property. A home inspection can reduce anxiety by screening for problems and itemizing them in a comprehensive report. This home inspection report may include approximations of repair costs and recommendations of useful upgrades to the property systems. The general result of a professional home inspection is that property buyers make significantly more informed purchases.
A home inspection will include a review of the exterior, including driveways, steps, walkways, walls and patios. It will also address water drainage, grading, windows, and doors, exposed areas of chimneys, gutters and roof. The inspector will also carefully inspect the interior of the home, including the foundation walls, slabs, and exposed bearing walls, posts, beams, subfloors, chimneys and stairs. Attic insulation and roof structure is noted, along with a review of the heating, cooling, electrical and plumbing systems.
Each inspection company has a slightly different report, and some have different areas of familiarity. The agents at River Valley can supply you with a number of qualified and licensed home inspectors, and you can review their reports and credentials.