The best way to avoid buyer's remorse when you buy a home in Salt Lake City, Utah is to know what you are getting into which is why homes inspections are such an important part of the home buying process.  The value and necessity of an extensive home inspection cannot be emphasized enough.  There are many home buyers today spending thousands of dollars in repairs on the home because they thought bypassing a home inspection could save them $250- $400.  

When you are buying a new house, you are buying the structure with all its systems, upgraded or not. Leaky roofs, foundation cracks, flooding basements, inadequate ventilation, faulty pipe systems - all these work against your peace of mind. That is why before making any offer to purchase, make sure that the contract is contingent upon subject to a whole house inspection, complete with the satisfactory report at the end of the session.

Your agent might try to dissuade you although any agent of that mindset should be avoided because they are not working in your best interest.  Maybe even your family or friends might try to persuade you from spending the extra money.  Just remember that the money you spend on home inspection is well worth it, perhaps even more, down the road.

And besides, by having your offer to purchase contingent on a home inspection, an unacceptable inspection will free you from the contract you signed (if that's what the stipulation says) or your seller would be bound to have any defects in the home be either repaired or monetarily compensated for.

First things first...

Prior to scheduling the formal inspect you can possibly save yourself some money by going through the house to observe obvious defects that would cause red flags.

A personal inspection is not to replace a professional home inspection. Think of it as just a precautionary measure or extra protection against a bad investment. The purpose is only to eliminate those properties that have too many obvious deficiencies from consideration. In doing so, you save time, which could really mean money in the long run. Use the checklist below as a guide:

• Foundation - Look for any obvious cracks. Also, see if there are any apparent shifts in the foundation.

• Roof - Check the age of the roof. Its age usually shows through so check if it appears new or old. If it is of an indeterminate age, take note of that. Overall, what is its condition?

• Evidence of leaks - Check inside as well as outside. Check all ceilings and areas around windows.

• Basement or crawlspace - Is there dampness? Be careful of any signs of flooding, such as water intrusion, mildew, staining on the paint, etc. Is there adequate insulation?

• Attic - How does the interior of the roof structure look?

• Quality and Workmanship - In general and in any additions

• Apparent energy efficiency - Check if the house appears tightly sealed.

• Electrical - You don't have to open any wire panels. Just see if there are any obvious malfunctions.

• Plumbing - Any unusual noises or malfunctions?

• Appliance condition - What is the age and condition of the stove, dishwasher, refrigerator (if included), etc.?

• Heating/Cooling System - Does it seem to do the job heating or cooling?

• Exterior - Is the house going to need repairs or paint soon?

• Lot - does the drainage appear good - and away from the house? Are there any trees encroaching on the roof or foundation?

Now the Professional Home Inspection

A typical home inspection, people always expect the home inspector to point out all the bad news. The furnace of your new home may have already exceeded its life expectancy by ten years. Or the garage door may present a hazard to a young child or pet. The bathroom faucet may show a leak. Or the roofing may need some repairs a few weeks after you close the purchase. All this will obviously be worth the $300 or $700 fees.

The best home inspectors are also teachers; their home inspection doesn't have to be all about giving you the slip. Problems are not the only things it can point out. In fact, there are much, much more things that your home inspector can show you and, in the process, teach you about your house.

The best time to learn about your own house is right before you buy it, while walking through it with your home inspector. Do If this is your first time owning a house, there are just a few things you absolutely must learn. You might not know about the necessity of changing furnace filters, how to shut off the main water supply when a pipe bursts, or that stacking firewood next to a wooden deck is a very idea. Any of these things can present a hazard to you and your family in your new home. Having a home inspector teach you how to handle these things and other issues will make the difference.

A home inspector can advise you about maintenance on any number of things in your home. If you want to increase the safety and comfort in the home, he can give you suggestions on small modifications you can manage on your own. Often, he may prioritize his suggestions.

Get a Certified Inspector

In order to make the most out of a home inspection, you need to get a certified home inspector who is qualified to do a thorough job of inspecting the physical structures and systems of the home. In the early days, there were only a few standards of practice to follow in order to become a certified home inspector. And in some areas, this is still true even today, but the whole industry has already raised its level of professionalism.

Do whatever you have to do in order to be present during the inspection, because you will learn a lot about your house and its systems when you do.

The aspects of the house which the certified home inspector will examine include:

• The structure, such as the entry ways, foundations, siding and porches, etc.

• The exterior, including decks, balconies, eaves, soffits, and fascias.

• Roofing

• Plumbing

• Electrical System

• Heating and Air Conditioning Systems

• Home Interior

• Ventilation

• Appliances

• Fireplaces

A certified home inspector who is thorough in doing his job will result in lots of information. Such information will assist the buyer make the right choice in buying a new home.

The inspector may suggest you get further review from a specialist in their field, such as a roof certification, HVAC professional, a stucco specialist.  This often happens when a red flag is raised and the inspector believes that it is in your best interest to have it looked into further.

The Home Summarized

The best home inspectors will not only tell you what is wrong with your potential home, but what is right. His job is to make an objective and independent visual assessment of the house. That goes without saying that everything he observes - the good and the bad - he jots down in his report and hands it to you and based on that, you can then go on and make an intelligent decision.

After your home inspector is done with his job, he will probably sit with you and run through his principal findings. This is the time to ask him any other questions you may not have already asked. Don't pass up the opportunity. Pick his brains as much as he will allow, but stick to specific questions about specific issues. And then, breathe freely.

Go to the Salt Lake City, Utah Real Estate Resource Center for more information on buying a home in Salt Lake City Utah.  Or just fill out the form below and I will get right back to you with the requested information.

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