Ready to buy a the Bay Area house? Finding the right place will require a lot of research and homework! In our latest post, we offer a guide to home inspections for home buyers in the Bay Area and the surrounding areas!
When getting ready to buy a house in the Bay Area, there are a few things to know first! You should have a good understanding of the home inspection process to understand what is involved and how to protect yourself. Instead of looking at random houses on the MLS, one strategy is to consider buying from a professional. When you buy from a professional team of investors such as Skye Homes, you can be assured the house will be move-in ready. We also sell fixer-upper properties for you to renovate as you see fit! Call us now to find out what we have available!
On the other hand, if you work with an agent or if you are looking at properties on your own, you will want to understand everything involved with the inspection. We break it down for you below.
Finding An Inspector
When buying a house in the Bay Area off the MLS, you will always want to hire your own inspector. Take some time to interview a few, and ask to speak to others that have used their services. Don’t use an inspector recommended by the seller or their agent. While most people are ethical, there are a few out there that might tell you nothing is wrong, when in fact, there is a severe problem.
What Do They Look For?
There are 10 common things property inspectors will look at. These include:
- The structure of the house, making sure things are square and not sinking into the ground.
- The grounds the property is on, making sure sheds, railing and even the plants used in the landscaping are up to snuff.
- The roof of the house. A critical element of the house, the inspector will get up on the roof and walk around. Unfortunately, it can be difficult to detect leaks until a rainstorm comes through.
- The exterior of the house. They will look for damage, chipping paint, mold, decay and more.
- The windows and doors. They will make sure they are set right, and not letting any drafts into the house.
- The interior rooms of the house. The will look at the walls, framing, and places where water may have come in.
- The kitchen. The will check for GFI outlets, cabinetry and lighting problems.
- The bathrooms. The will make sure all fixtures work with any damage. Toilets and sinks should all work well with no slow draining.
- The plumbing. Hand in hand with the kitchen and bathroom inspections, they will look at the plumbing system throughout the house. They will check the water pressure and the water heater amongst other things.
- The electrical systems, including heating and A/C. The will make sure everything works as it should, checking that there are enough outlets and that the panel is capable of providing the amount of electricity to the home.
Will You Need Speciality Inspections?
There are many things a standard inspector just can’t detect. In these cases, you will need to hire and bring in a specialist which can get a little pricey. If there is a septic tank, swimming pool or a popcorn ceiling (asbestos) you might want to consider hiring a specialist!
Prepare for Negotiations
If there are many problems found in the home, you shouldn’t buy until the problems are resolved or they have provided a credit for you to fix it. Your lender will likely require some things be fixed ahead of time, things that typically lead to bigger problems. You can’t expect the seller to fix everything, but they should absolutely tend to the bigger things that pop up during the inspection.
How Working With An Investor Can Help
Working with an investor or direct seller can save you time and money. You know what you are getting as well as the true history of the house. The renovations have been done and the house is typically move-in ready. You will have all the records and not have to worry about the unknown.
