Columbia SC home inspection tips like the ones found in this article could save you a ton of money. A home inspection is but one of the many expenses a homebuyer will face during the home shopping process. None is more critical – and potentially satisfying – than a home inspection. Experts say on a dollar for dollar comparison, a home inspection represents the wisest investment you can make regarding the home you’re considering purchasing. A thorough home inspection will examine and summarize your home’s good points and bad, giving you necessary insight to know how to proceed with the sales transaction.

Let’s take a look at Five Columbia SC Home Inspection Tips worth considering.

Choose the right type of inspection

Once you meet with your real estate agent to submit an offer to buy the home you like, your agent should cover the various types of inspections from which to choose. In addition to a standard home inspection there are others such as pest, radon and mold inspections.

Standard home inspections can be categorized into two different types:  The home inspection and the general inspection. While it may sound like nothing more than semantics, there are differences in the two – primarily in the manner in which the information reported by the inspection is utilized. A typical home inspection is the more popular option. In that report, the home seller will receive a notice from the prospective purchaser outlining certain specific items that need to be repaired prior to the closing of the sale. In addition, the notice will ask the seller to consider paying for the repairs by way of a credit toward the closing costs of the transaction.

Second on our list of five Columbia SC home inspection tips includes getting a general inspection, which is solely for informational purposes. It stops short of requesting that inspected issues be corrected or repaired – but it does provide the prospective homebuyer the option to refuse to close the sale based on the inspection’s findings.

Choose a qualified inspector In scheduling, conducting and following up with a home inspection it’s important that each participant in the process is experienced and highly qualified. The potential purchase of the home you’re interested in represents one of the largest financial investments you’ll ever make – and it’s important that you and the people you surround yourself with treat it as such. Select a home inspection expert that is currently licensed by, and is a member of, a well-known trade association such as the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI) or the National Association of Certified Home Inspectors (NACHI.) In addition, have the home inspector share a copy of the sample inspection report. Of course, you will ultimately obtain the entire report and its findings, but seeing a blank report ahead of time will give you a clearer picture of what to expect and how you can use the information in a potential negotiation with the home seller. In the end, the home inspector will give you a detailed list of the home’s components and their overall condition. Home inspectors recommend taking notes during the inspection recap – especially if you have questions regarding the use and maintenance of items such as home systems and appliances you’re not fully familiar with.

Where’s the owner’s manual? Funny thing about homes – they rarely come equipped with an owner’s manual. Among our Columbia SC home inspection tips is the advice of many experts which recommends you accompany the home inspector while he’s conducting the inspection. He will be able to provide a good deal of information on how certain systems in the home operate. This will be invaluable at a later date should you decide to purchase the home.

Use the report for the purpose intended Among our Columbia SC home inspection tips, when your home inspection professional has examined the home and has issued his findings in the report, review it closely. Ask questions as needed. Don’t be bashful and don’t be afraid of asking the proverbial “stupid” questions – there are none when you’re making a purchase of this size. Keep in mind that the home inspector’s role is that of a “generalist” to some degree, and less of a specialist regarding certain areas or findings. As an example, if the inspector finds possible evidence of a mold issue, he will likely recommend that you contact a company specializing in mold remediation to solve the problem.

While negotiations with the seller vary widely according to the results of a home inspection, there are normal guidelines and protocol that are usually followed. Major issues such as plumbing, electrical or HVAC systems should be addressed first and most importantly. Experts say to devote the bulk of your attention and negotiation efforts to these issues and don’t worry about the smaller items. If there are no major items that need attention, then you can tackle the smaller items with the seller as part of your final negotiation.

Lastly among our Columbia SC home inspection tips, if you opt to perform any repair work yourself or oversee its completion and decide to seek a credit from the home seller at the closing of the transaction, consult your mortgage lender. You’ll want to ensure you are able to request the maximum amount of credits as per the guidelines – usually 3%-6%. Remember, if the amount is in excess of what is needed you won't receive it, the seller gets to keep it.

Remember this It’s important to know that home inspectors – as experienced and trained as they are – don’t have x-ray vision that allows them to see through walls or under floors. So remember, as thorough as their inspection of the home may be, they can’t be expected to report on items they can't visually inspect. In addition, remember that a home inspection will give you the condition in which the home is in as of the day of the inspection. While the old adage “Things change” usually applies to the everyday hustle and bustle of life, it also applies to the conditions of various home components, too.

You can find more articles pertaining to Columbia SC home inspections in the Columbia SC Home Inspections section of our site below Columbia SC Real Estate Categories in the column to your right.

We also post tips daily on Twitter and Facebook and would love for you to follow us there as well.

Finding a reliable Columbia SC home inspector is a "must-do" thing when buying a home.

A thorough home inspection can help to uncover hidden damage and shine some light on potentially costly future repairs. But home inspections aren't just completed to keep the buyer safe — they can help to protect the real estate professional too. Informed buyers are more likely to be satisfied with their purchase and, as a result, they'll be far less likely to come back to haunt you after the sale closes.

Make sure any Columbia SC home inspector you decide to hire is professional and qualified, will do a thorough job, and won't be afraid to crawl under the house to make sure the floor isn't about to cave in!

7 Questions To Help Evaluate a Columbia SC Home Inspector

1 – Are you licensed? – Some states don't have any licensing requirements, so be sure to ask if the Columbia SC home inspector you're considering is licensed or not.

2 – What Credentials Do You Have? – There are a number of professional organizations that provide credentials, including ASHI and NAHI. Watch out for those who claim a "company certification" or any type of "in-house accreditation system" that's not subject to overriding industry standards.

3 – How Much Experience Do You Have? – The NAHI and ASHI require a minimum of 250 inspections. Many industry professionals say that finding someone who has performed at least 1,000 inspections and has three to five years of full-time experience is important. When browsing the home inspector's website, watch out for wording designed to make it look like they have more experience than they actually do. Remember, "industry experience" doesn't necessarily mean experience actually inspecting homes.

4 – Are You Insured? – Even the best inspectors can make mistakes. It's important to ask for proof of insurance for both errors and omissions and general liability. Always avoid inspectors who aren't insured, and watch out for inspectors who severely limit their liability coverage.

5 – Do You Offer a Guarantee? – Does the Columbia SC home inspector stand by his report? Does he offer any guarantees? Some home inspectors offer optional 90-day warranties that will help cover repairs or replacement costs. Be sure to check into such offers, paying special attention to the fine print and exclusions.

6 – Do You Have Sample Reports? – This will help you to gauge how thorough their inspections will be. Most any reputable Columbia SC home inspector will be more than happy to provide you with one if they don't already have one displayed on their website.

7 – How Long Will Your Inspection Take? – According to ASHI, a home inspection can take two to four hours or longer, depending upon the size of the home. Watch out for inspectors who offer "specials" for one-hour inspections—anything less than two hours may be an indicator of a less-than-thorough job.

Get more information as it pertains to finding a Columbia SC home inspector in our section on Columbia SC Home Inspections to your right under Columbia SC Real Estate Categories.

Remember, we post tips daily to Twitter, and also on our Facebook Page. We'd love you to check us out there too.

There are lots of reasons for selling a Columbia SC home, but there are many reasons why getting the home inspected first can be a key selling feature to buyers.

Why Get An Inspection Before Selling a Columbia SC Home?

One of the biggest reasons for getting your home inspected before you even put it on the market is, it helps your buyers see you as an honest seller. This makes the process more amicable as fears of being swindled are reduced and a certain trust factor is established right up front.

Getting a home inspection done if you're selling a Columbia SC home also protects your interests. Many people fear getting a home inspection because it may reveal detrimental things about the house that need to be fixed. On the other hand, it may uncover advantages in your home that enhance its value that no one knew about before. This gives you more power at the bargaining table. Imagine being able to increase your asking price because your home inspector discovered something new about the building. The home inspector can also offer tips on improvements that need to be made. Often time these improvements may enable you to increase your asking price for a lot less than having a buyer find the problem and request that you reduce the price when they make an offer.

On the flip side, getting a home inspection can serve as a heads up. If there are major issues, such as a damp basement, these are highlighted so you can get them taken care of before putting the property on the market or reduce your asking price to compensate for the flaw. Failure to do this could lead to you wasting your time and efforts. Buyer after buyer may turn down your property after getting the place inspected themselves. They may decide that for the asking price there are simply too many flaws and things to be fixed. You are also protected from asking for an unrealistic price and having the unit avoided like the plague because of an asking price that is just too high.

You're also protected from unfounded claims by a home inspection after an offer is made. This means if a defect emerges after the sale and your home inspection report does not support this flaw then you have your inspection to fall back on supporting your side of the deal. No need to be forced to use the proceeds of the sale of your home to effect renovation to a home that is no longer yours.

If you're thinking of selling a Columbia SC home, call a home inspector to check out the property first. Protect yourself and your family from unnecessary problems.

Find more news articles as they relate to selling a Columbia SC home in the Columbia SC Home Selling Tips section under Columbia SC Real Estate Categories to your right. And find us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter for daily updates we post there as well.

Every now and again, we get a buyer who says to us, "Why do we need to get a Columbia SC home inspection?" Or "Why is it so important to get a Columbia SC home inspection?" Or "Why should we get a home inspection if we're buying a new home?"

The temptation is there for skipping a Columbia SC home inspection and saving the few hundred dollars the inspection will cost in order to buy a piece of furniture or new curtains instead.

Our advice? Don't Do It!