First Time Home Buyer Inspector serving all of Connecticut (CT)
Some Tips for the First-Time Home Buyer:
 | Get a home inspection!! |
Many homes - even new ones - have defects that you may not notice. A skilled Home Inspector has the training and experience needed to look for visual signs of defects in your new home. These defects, can cost you, thousands of dollars in repair bills.
| And hire a competent home inspector!! |
Why a competent home inspector? Well, if you hire a blind home inspector your dream home could become your money pit. Many Connecticut inspectors are part time or new (inexperienced) or don’t care. New and part-time home inspectors simply haven’t put in the time to develop the skills to identify many problems. The “don’t care” ones just don’t care about you! I hear horror stories about them all the time. And yes, there are many good home inspectors in this state. That's why you should hire a qualified and experienced home inspector. THERE IS NO SUBSTITUTE FOR EXPERIENCE.
| An old inspection report is not gospel. |
Someone may offer you an old inspection report to save you money. WRONG! You were not at that inspection and have no idea of the ‘quality’ behind the author. No two inspectors inspect the same way. You really owe it to yourself to obtain your own inspection. Get an inspector you hired to meet your needs. Remember, any prior inspection report is only valid for the conditions the day of that inspection, and the older the report is the less relevant it is. And, if you rely on the old report and incur some big home repairs after you move in, you don’t have any recourse because the report legally belongs to some else.
| Staging. |
It's a feasible idea, but it really only helps the seller and agent move the merchandise quicker. Larger brokerages commonly have one or more certified stagers. On the flip side of the coin, some homeowners take little effort in cleaning their home for your viewing. Sometimes renters try to discourage you by ‘trashing’ the house. You have to look past the trash to view the home.
| Forecloures. |
Foreclosure inspections are unique. Read about our special recommendations below.
Foreclosure Inspections often involve the unique problem of having no utilities on (water, power, gas) and the boiler not running when I show up in spite of promises and commitments (from agents, banks, or property managers). It ends up wasting your time and money. The following 2 things can happen:
- We jointly decide to cancel the inspection and I have to charge you a cancellation fee of $75 for my time and gas. I can then come back and do the inspection for the originally agreed fee when all utilities are indeed on...
- Or we decide to go ahead with the inspection (at the full agreed price) and I have to disclaim everything that cannot be checked (furnace, AC, plumbing, all electrical service and appliances, etc). Whereas I can still give a report on the entire foundation, exterior, grading/grounds, decking, crawlspace, basement, structure, roof, attic, etc., some key areas of concern cannot be reported on. If you want, I can return and inspect those areas not previously operable for an additional fee of $75.
Obviously you get the best value by having the house fully ready to be inspected when I come out. This probably means you need to visit the property and physically verify that all utilities are indeed on. Turn on the faucets, the lights, and the furnace or boiler. Don't rely on someone's word that the utilities are on--actually verify it. I cannot tell you how many times they "are supposed to be on" and were not when I got there!