One major milestone in your life is buying a home. To you, it may be your first reward for working so hard in life. With all the emotions surrounding a home purchase, it’s easy to miss steps that can cost you in the long run.  

One commonly missed opportunity for buyers is a home inspection. The following are a few reasons why you should get a home inspection before signing your contract. 

A Home Inspection Can Uncover Problems 
The point of getting a home inspection report is to determine whether a house has hidden problems. As such, potential buyers can’t overlook this step.  

Home inspectors examine every aspect of houses to see what works and what does not. They might look at foundations, electrical systems and for contamination. Once your inspector gives you the report, you can weed out homes based on the information in the report. 

The Seller’s Contract May Not Be Accurate 
Many sellers conduct a home inspection to help them sell their home. Sellers with good intentions use the home inspection report to fix problems before placing their home on the market. However, other homeowners aren’t so considerate when it comes to their home inspection report. They may use a friend to do the inspection so that he or she will overlook certain problems.  

You can’t rely solely on a seller’s home inspection. With bad reports, you might walk away from homes that look great but hide costly repairs. Home inspections are inexpensive and informative if you undertake one on your own time.  

You can Negotiate Better with a Home Inspection 
Your home inspection report is a great tool to use when you want to negotiate. You might negotiate with the homeowner to reduce the selling price of the home if it needs a lot of repairs.  

Often, this strategy can help buyers get the home while reducing the amount of debt they take on. 

Prevent a Home Insurance Claim by Getting an Inspection 
Homes with a lot of problems can lead to more problems in the future. A faulty electrical system could lead to a house fire. A leaky pipe may flood your home.  

You can expect home repairs during your life in the house. However, it’s best to avoid repairs whenever possible. You can reduce your chances of filing a home insurance claim after taking ownership of the home. 

If you are in the market to purchase a home, we are happy to protect your home using home insurance. Our home insurance policies help you secure your home from the unknown.