Home Inspections: What to Expect
When Amy and Joe Hayek put their Atlanta, Ga. home on the market, the inspection found that the roof was in bad condition. This came as a surprise to them. The roof didn't leak and their family had been living comfortably under it for years.
According to real estate experts, home sellers often have this reaction. Home inspections are a thorough, nitpicky review of the home's condition, and it's likely going to reveal a long list of imperfections that may not affect the day-to-day life of its current owners.
For the potential buyer, an inspection is a win-win. It's a way to evaluate all the systems in the house -- from the foundation, to the roof, to the heating and cooling systems -- and it puts pressure on the seller to fix major problems before the home sale is finalized.
Before you go through the process of an inspection, regardless of whether you are on the buyer or seller side, here are a few things you are going to want to know:
