When contemplating making an offer for homes for sale in Scottsdale, you want to make sure you are offering a fair price for the quality and condition of the home. A good way to ensure that this happens is to make sure a thorough inspection of the home is completed by a trained professional prior to making an offer on the home. Results of the inspection may alter the amount you are willing to offer or would prompt you to request for the problems to be fixed before another offer will be considered.
To save yourself and the inspector time, it is important to be as prepared as possible prior to the inspection. Try to compile a checklist of any specific things you want or think need to be evaluated prior to the inspection. Provide the inspector with this list to accompany his or her list.
How To Choose an Inspector
Purchasing a home is no small transaction. When it comes to the home inspection, you don’t want to cut corners. Take some time to do your research, because a lot is riding on the performance of this person. While not all states require home inspectors to be certified, Arizona is one that does. The state also requires that the inspectors renew their license every year, providing an added reassurance that your inspector will be up to date on all expectations and regulations. There are a number of organizations that provide certification: The National Association of Home Inspectors (NAHI), The American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI), and the American Home Inspectors Training Institute (AHIT). You can search the Arizona chapter of both the NAHI and the ASHI to find a reputable inspector.
What The Inspection Entails
The purpose of the home inspection is to determine how good or bad the structure of the home is. This isn’t to be confused with an appraiser, who determines the monetary value of the home. A typical inspection will evaluate the condition of the:
- Roof
- Basement
- Heating System
- Water Heater
- Air Conditioning System
- Basic Home Structure
- Plumbing
- Electricity
- Doors
- Windows
- Porches or Decks
- Fireplaces
- Insulation
Once the inspection has taken place, the inspector will provide you with a detailed, written report about what they observed. They will convey any safety hazards, any aspects of the home that may eventually need to be fixed but are not an immediate concern, and any items that need immediate attention.
After the Inspection
The role of the inspector is to do just that—inspect. They should not provide you with their opinion of whether or not you should purchase the home or give an estimate of how much the home is worth or how much repairs would cost; those decisions are up to you after you receive their report. This phase of the buying process is the most common make it or break it moment. You may request for the seller to fix the problems found in the inspection before continuing to pursue an offer. Oftentimes, the sellers may not want to put more time and money into the home and will opt for continuing to search for another buyer. It is a time for negotiations and deciding what is most important to you.
Searching for homes for sale in Scottsdale can be an overwhelming endeavor, but The MoJo Team – Scottsdale Realtors can help make sure you find an inspector you can trust. They can help be a voice of reason or provide additional input and information once the inspector has delivered the report. The last thing you want to do is jump the gun when purchasing a home just to find problems and hazards that you didn’t know about.
