Purchasing a home involves looking at the overall character of the home, its neighborhood, and the number of bedrooms and bathrooms, as well as the overall details that help you determine if this piece of property will fit your lifestyle and become your home. As you walk through the process of purchasing Staten Island real estate, it is important to know if there are any major problems or areas of concern within a home.
Home inspections done by certified home inspectors are meant to identify the potential issues within a home. That means you would be purchasing your new home with an understanding of its true condition. With that knowledge, you are in a better position to decide if you want to go through with the purchase or if you just want to keep looking.
With that in mind, let’s talk about the 7 important questions that you need to ask your Staten Island real estate home inspector to make sure that you have all the information you need.
What Do You Inspect?
There are a variety of areas of the homes that are covered under a typical inspection. However, the areas of the house that are concerning to you might not be covered under a particular home inspector’s inspection. For instance, you might be concerned about mold in the attic, but he might not look in the attic. Typically, a home inspector will look at a long list of items, approximately 1,600 features.
What Don’t You Check?
Home inspectors do have limits, so he will not be able to cut a hole in the wall. Therefore, since the visual inspection is their primary tool, their report will include potential problems in the report and the recommendation for another expert in a specific area, such as a roofer, HVAC, or electrician, to do a detailed examination.
How Much Is Your Inspection?
Before you choose a home inspector, you need to know how much the process is going to cost. After all, if the potential property is a large home, then the cost may actually go up. Here are the factors that contribute to the price: the market, the size of the house, and the inspector themselves. You are also going to have to pay the inspector on the day of the inspection, so you also want to know what forms of payment he accepts.
Does He Have Experience?
While a new home inspector can give you a quality inspection, the truth is that the more experience an inspector has, the more potential issues they are likely to spot. This point is particularly important if you are considering purchasing an older piece of real estate on Staten Island. Additionally, you are tapping into their knowledge of household systems to inform your decision making regarding that property.
Can I See a Sample Report?
If you are a first-time home buyer, then you might want to see a sample report, so you understand what it will cover and also help you to avoid panicking when you see your report. Part of reading your report is discerning what are critical items that could be concerning, as well as items listed that are just standard issues to repair as part of homeownership.
Can You Go On the Inspection?
Any good home inspector will allow you to be present during the inspection. They can explain your potential house’s systems and being able to ask questions is even more valuable than reading a report. It might be worth finding a different inspector if your first choice does not want you to tag along or is not open to answering your questions.
How Long Does an Inspection Typically Take?
First, it is important to remember that the inspection is going to happen during the work week, when the seller is less likely to be present. However, determining the length of the inspection is likely going to depend on the overall condition of the real estate on Staten Island. Therefore, it might be important to recognize that the inspector can only give you a ballpark figure. If they tell you it will take a day to inspect a small 2-bedroom property or only 2 hours to inspect a large historical home, then you should probably question the inspector further before moving forward with them.
There are plenty of benefits that come from having a home inspection. The report can clue you into potential issues, but also give you data that can help you decide whether to move forward with your purchase. If you are ready to purchase your next home in Staten Island, contact our knowledgeable and experienced team today!
Wonica Realtors & Appraisers are Staten Island’s #1 independent full-service real estate firm, serving the needs of the community for over 30 years. Whether you’re buying, selling, renting or relocating, our staff of highly trained professionals will provide quality realty services with personal attention to your individual real estate needs.