For many, purchasing a property is not only a dream come true but the most expensive purchase they’ll ever make.
But before moving forward with a sale, I have one simple piece of advice for all first-time homebuyers that could save them hundreds of thousands of dollars later down the line.
As a real estate investor with over a decade of experience in the business and as the host of A&E’s Zombie House Flipping: Family Business, I implore anyone to make sure they invest in a home inspection.
A home inspection is crucial because it will uncover whether a property has major flaws – from structural issues to electrical problems – before a sale.
Moving forward with a sale without an inspection could become a costly misstep if hidden damage is discovered, especially as extensive repairs can easily exceed $100,000 depending on severity and scale.
Knowledge is power, and there should absolutely be an understanding of what you’re buying before you fork out all that money for a home.
A home inspection is an important piece of the puzzle, and it will ultimately protect you during the biggest investment of your life.
An ethical realtor should provide a panel of three home inspectors for a buyer to choose from.
I’m Tommy Harr, a real estate investor with over a decade of experience in the business
I implore anyone to make sure they invest in a home inspection before they buy a property
While they shouldn’t tell you which to use, I suggest delving into their Google reviews and calling all three of them before landing on a decision.
The cost of a home inspection really depends on where you are in the country, but it should fall between $400 to $500.
It’s not chump change by any means, but it is absolutely necessary.
Besides working as a house flipper, I am a trained home inspector and I know what to look for.
Typically, an inspection is four hours.
I use technology and context clues to gather all the answers I need to determine what is going on with a house.
I’m looking at everything that’s visually apparent. That will include going in the attic, going in the crawl space, walking around the basement and looking at the exterior.
I also use high-end technology like a sewer line camera and infrared cameras to see temperature imbalances.
A home inspection costs between $400 to $500 and could save you thousands down the line
Ordering an inspection will ultimately protect you during the biggest investment of your life (stock image)
I’m trying to find leaks that you can’t see. It’s just like putting together the puzzle of what that house is going to do.
An inspection is broken into three sections: safety concerns, recommended repairs and then maintenance items.
Maintenance items are things you can fix after purchase, like changing an electrical outlet.
If a roof is actively leaking and there’s potential mold up there, that’s a safety issue and repairs should be flagged with the seller, and you’re well within your right to negotiate repairs.
Typically, the biggest issue found during a house inspection is water damage. Electrical and plumbing issues can also arise.
Older houses might have knob and tube electric, which is old electric that is coated in rope.
I star in A&E’s Zombie House Flipping: Family Business alongside my brothers and father
New episodes of Zombie House Flipping: Family Business air Saturdays at 11am ET/PT on A&E
Over time, the material starts to fray and insulation can start house fires.
While I can’t see inside the wall, I use outlet testers that help me to understand what could be there.
Following the inspection, I will tell you a list of potential issues and then if you’ve hired a good realtor, they should have a lot of resources to help you.
If there’s anything that you don’t understand in the report, ask questions.
You’re allowed to call that inspector again and ask them to break down the details.
People are not taught construction and many do not know a lot of the jargon. If you just read it in layman’s terms, a report could really scare you.
As a home inspector, I’m sometimes seen as ‘the bad guy’ because I identify issues that can crush someone’s dreams.
But I want to ensure clients aren’t heading into a nightmare situation that could cost them thousands in the future.
New episodes of Zombie House Flipping: Family Business air Saturdays at 11am ET/PT on A&E’s Home.Made.Nation.
