Three Smart Reasons To Get A HomeInspection Before You Buy (NAPSA)—Whether you're buy- ing a new home or you're in the market for an older home, the door should always be open to a home inspection—before you buy. That’s the advice from experts who say home inspections can help home buyers spot potential problems with a house—ranging from dry rot to termites, and from faulty wiring to bad plumbing. That information not only saves you future headaches, but it can also be used as leverage when negotiating the price of a home. “Simply put, you want to know what you're getting into when you buy a house,” explains Dan Stew- ard, president of Pillar To Post, North America’s leading provider of home-inspection services. “A home inspector will check the roof, crawl spaces and other hard-to-reach places. He’ll check for damage on old homes and defects on newly built ones.” The best way to avoid unpleasant surprises is to have the home inspected before you buy. Steward. “You'll find out quite a bit about the house you buy and have a better idea of what maintenance areas need your attention.” Pillar To Post provides a home inspection report to clients, com- plete with digital photos, a detailed list and executive summaryof find- walls and windows, the basement ings, and maintenance recommendations and tips, among other things. The reports are done at the time of home inspection and cover the top three ways a home inspection can help homeowners: Also, if you're the “hands-on” type, you might be able to follow the home inspector as he does his In addition, Steward says a home inspection covers heating and cooling systems, the attic, and foundation, as well as plumbing and wiring. Here’s a look at #1: Cut Costs Home inspections generally cost between $300 and $400—a cost that can often be recouped in maintenance savings or even split between home buyerandseller. And consider this fact: A new more than 1,600 items in the home. work. Often, the home inspectors will describe what they’re doing and talk about routine main- tenance as they perform the inspection. #3: Build A Better Budget Because a home inspection between $14,000 and $20,000, report points out potential problems with a house, it can help you budget for upcoming repair ex- unknowingly buy a home needing needs to be done. “If you have a good understand- roof for a 2,000-square-foot, singlestory home (tar and gravel) costs depending on regions, upgrades, complexity and disposal fees. If you a new roof, that cost is passed entirely to you. However, if a home penses and prioritize work that ing of whatit’s going to cost you to needed, at least part of that cost might be subtracted from the sell- keep your house in shape, you can get a much better idea of what perks—such as a new kitchen— you can afford,” says Steward. learn about other repair cost estimates at www.pillartopost.com. #2: Boost Your Homeowner IQ reports to help determine what you can afford in the way of mortgage payments and closing costs.” For more information about inspector determines a new roofis ing price of a home or split between you and the seller. You may “A home inspection can be a creat learning opportunity,” says “You can also use home inspection home inspections, visit www. pillartopost.com.
