Fact or Myth? 5 Truths About Home Inspections (and What You Need to Know As A Buyer)

Home inspections have lots of "stigma" around them. People often picture a guy going through a home checking off one thing after another that is WRONG with the house, and the potential buyers nervously following along or being greatly disappointed as they see the house of their dreams figuratively torn to bits thanks to a host of issues.

While this could occasionally be true in a handful of circumstances, the normal home-inspection experience is actually not that stressful, and can be very helpful to potential home buyers (or sellers!) when they want to make sure they are doing what's best financially.

So, what are the myths you should watch out for, and what are the facts when it comes to having someone inspect a home?

1. It's the Seller's Responsibility

When an issue is found in a house, the most likely response an inspector will hear from the potential buyer is "Oh, well the seller has to fix that, right?" That would be incorrect. While some sellers are willing to work with potential buyers to repair issues in order to make the sell, people selling their home are not required to fix anything prior to selling a house. This is not only frustrating for a potential buyer, but it also shows the importance of hiring a home inspector before you make the jump to purchase a house. If you aren't willing to spend the money to make the needed repairs, those issues could become even larger and more costly (or dangerous!) and you're better to walk away.

2. New Homes = No Inspection

This is a big myth. New homes are no less subject to issues. If anything, in today's world where homes are put together quickly and (unfortunately) cheaply, there can be a plethora of issues that aren't visible to the naked and untrained eye. By hiring an inspector for your new home, you might be able to catch issues before an applicable warranty runs out, and that could save you a lot of money and trouble in the long run.

3. Old Stucco Is A No-Go

Nope. It's the more modern stuff you need to worry about. Old stucco (anything before the 1990s) is usually not a problem if it has been maintained. However, homes built during and after the 90s often have moisture issues with the stucco, and it's recommended by many inspectors that you opt for an invasive moisture test before purchasing a stucco home from this time period.

4. Buyers Should Only Come at The End of The Inspection

This lies somewhere between fact and myth. Truthfully, it all depends on your inspector. Some inspectors prefer to have buyers only come at the end of the process, and then they can take the time to go over the report with the buyers in detail. Others like to have buyers go through the home with them, and they talk through issues as they come up. It's best to communicate with your inspector and find out their preference. By following what they feel most comfortable with, you'll end up with the best experience.

5. The (Not) Horrible Double Tapped Circuit-Breakers

Double-tapped circuit breakers have a reputation of being a terrible thing to find during an inspection, and buyers fear expensive electrical repairs. However, this is not necessarily true. Often, a double-tapped circuit breaker is an easy fix and isn't terribly expensive. In other words, unless your inspector thinks it's a big deal, it's probably not something that should make or break you purchasing the home.

We hope these tips will help you when you are in the market to purchase your next home. If you are in the greater Polk County area, give us a call! AllPro is InterNACHI certified, and we are a local and trusted company here in the Central Florida area, so you know you are getting the best quality of service.

Remember, don't fall for the myths. Do your research!