Should you hire an inspector when buying a home???

Buying a home is the largest purchase most of us will make, and going about it the right way is key. We’re asked all the time from our buyers: Should I hire an inspector?

Well, if it’s an entire row-house, brownstone, or free-standing home the answer is absolutely, YES!

An inspector will look at the foundation, the exterior façade, the roof, windows, water, waste and gas connections, bldg. mechanicals, and fireplaces and chimneys.

They’ll review electrical and other upgrades to be sure they’re done properly. They’ll also check for existing or past water issues, and termite damage. They’ll even let you know what big expenses you may have to face in the near future.

Well what about a Condo/Coop? You’re only buying that one apartment within a larger building, right? Well if it’s a boutique building, it definitely makes sense to bring in an inspector. They’ll likely get access to the mechanicals and the roof, and also give you an idea of what big expenses the building may have to contend with. In this scenario, there may only be a handful of units paying into future repairs.

In larger buildings, an inspector is unlikely to get access to common elements like the roof, the basement and building mechanicals. In that case, you’re paying for a much more thorough and more expensive walk-through of the apartment.

Even in a larger building, if you’re looking to purchase a garden level unit, a top floor unit, or a penthouse with outdoor space above, definitely get an inspector involved.

In those cases it’s important to find past or current water damage, that you may be responsible for depending on that particular building’s rules.

What it comes down to is peace of mind for you as the buyer. We have some great people we work with to help you figure out what you can expect to deal with when buying a new home.

Depending on the results, we can usually adjust terms of your deal to have certain concerns remedied prior to closing. But let’s first find that perfect home, and that all starts with a conversation with us. We look forward to hearing from you!