Purchasing a home is one of the most significant purchase decisions to be made in a lifetime. Whether it is a first, second, or third home purchase, getting a home inspection done is always a good idea. As the most common home-buying contingency, it provides potential buyers with an out if the inspection reveals concerning news regarding the home’s condition. If you are planning to purchase a home, consider the following reasons for why getting a home inspection is so beneficial for home buyers.

The ‘Out’ Option

Placing a contingency on the purchase of a house based on the results of a home inspection provides the home buyer with one last chance to ‘out’ on the offer. If the inspection reveals issues with the home’s condition that is unpleasing, expensive, unsafe, or too high maintenance, the buyer does not have to follow through on the offer.

Safety

A licensed home inspector will know what to look for in a home and will start with checking the basic safety features. Radon, mold, and carbon monoxide are just a few of the issues that a home inspector can unearth, and these are things you would definitely want to know before considering purchasing a home.

Reveals Permit/Addition Issues

Inspectors will also know if an addition to a home would need to have had a permit issued or if it is illegal. In cases where homes are purchased with additions or items that are not up to code or have not gone through the system to be granted a permit, the responsibility for that falls on the subsequent homeowner. These are issues a buyer might not want to deal with or might want the seller to deal with before following through on the purchase.

Future Maintenance Costs

A home inspector also has an eye for potential future costs that a home may have looming in the near future. Having an accurate idea as to how long it will be until the shingles, driveway, furnace, or hot water tank need to be replaced helps the buyer make an informed decision as to how the home fits into their short-term and long-term maintenance budget.