How to save money with a professional inspection

You’ve visited the property a few times; you know a bit about construction and nothing abnormal has caught your eye. The house is practically new, so why waste a few hundred dollars having it inspected?

But consider this scenario: you’ve just moved into your new home, and a bout of heavy rain goes on for a while. You’re shocked to see water dripping through your bedroom ceiling. There was no indication such a problem existed; no stains or traces of mould. Even the roof, which you had inspected from ground level, seemed in perfect condition.

A home inspector might have detected a problem in the attic or roof before you bought the home. And even if he or she hadn’t seen anything apparent, the simple fact of having used his services allows you to demonstrate that you took all necessary precautions before buying. In this case, the seller could be held liable to pay for all the repair work.

By insisting on an inspection that makes the purchase conditional to your satisfaction, you give yourself some flexibility and open the door to negotiations. Are there cracks in the basement foundations? Some windows aren’t sealed properly? The heating system is defective? All necessary repair work can be used to negotiate the selling price, especially if they were spotted by a certified inspector and you have his report to prove it.