Making the decision to own a home is an important one. Owning a home doesn’t just mean you have a place to rest your head at night. It’s an investment in your family and, in essence, your future. We asked two expert home inspectors in our area what their Top 3 recommendations for protecting that investment would be and here is a compilation of their responses.
Tip #1: Before You Buy – Hire a Qualified Home Inspector to Inspect the Home Prior to Purchase
Says Gary Gentry, Owner and Senior Consultant of Quality Residential Inspections -
A Home Inspector is paid to be suspicious even when there is nothing particular to be suspicious about.
That’s what you need prior to plunking down a significant amount of money for that new home…someone who is suspicious and someone who is not “in love” with that beautiful new home.
A professional home inspection will provide you with valuable insight as to the physical condition of the property without emphasis on the floor plan of the house or the colors of the interior walls or of the condition of the wall-to-wall carpet. Having a home inspection will be mostly invaluable to you in your purchasing decision because the Inspection Report will identify areas of concern that you may not have yet considered:
- Is there any indication of damage from past plumbing leaks?
- What about from roof leakage?
- Are there any obvious electrical hazards present that need to be corrected?
- Is that garage overhead door operating safely?
The Home Inspector should also teach you a bit about the home because homes don’t generally come with “owners manuals” – Where is that main water shut-off valve located in case you were to have to turn off the water…..right now? What is the most efficient way to operate the heat pump system?, etc. – all good questions that are sometimes overlooked by the prospective buyer.
A professional home inspection is just the start.
Tip #2: Maintaining the Home is Key to Maintaining Your Investment
The purchase has been made. You’ve signed on the dotted line. It’s now YOUR home.
The maintenance of a home requires a significant general commitment as well as considerable expenditures of both time and money. Home Inspectors routinely report on various conditions that are quite costly to correct, and often these issues could have been prevented with a good maintenance plan and some affirmative action.
Anything to do with water is a recurring and prominent theme with a home. Plumbing and roof leaks need to be discovered as quickly as possible to prevent damage. Keeping the exterior well maintained is important…the siding and wood trim need to be periodically prepared and painted to prevent deterioration.
Don’t forget to periodically inspect those spaces of the home which most people rarely venture. What’s happening in that crawl space or attic space? And having your cooling and heating systems serviced is important to their well-being and to their longevity.
As Dick Whitfield of DPS Home Inspection recommends -
“Maintenance of fire extinguishers, smoke detectors, CO detectors, gas logs and chimneys, and dryer vents are all equally important. It is my opinion that a house can be replaced but the occupants can not.”
Tip #3: Keep it Clean Inside and Out
“Pay attention to the way the home looks. Pay attention to how it presents itself. Drag out that dusty ole’ home-buyers hat, put it on, go out to the street, and take a good long, hard and unbiased look at your home.” (Gary Gentry)
Do the same on the inside too. Should you one day decide to sell your home, keeping it clean inside and out shows a prospective buyer how much you truly cared for your property. Whether it be neatly trimmed shrubs around the exterior or a fresh coat of paint on interior walls, taking good care of the building you call “home” is an investment in it.
As Gary Gentry states, “While a Home Inspector doesn’t pay too much attention to cosmetic items, you can bet your hard-earned money that your prospective buyers are doing just that.”
Do you remember how the home looked the first time you saw it?
We agree with Mr. Gentry and Mr. Whitfield. Having a qualified professional inspect your home at the start and maintaining it while you own it are critical components to protecting that investment you have made – your home.
Do you have any other suggestions we could share with our community? Please add them in the comments below.
Special thanks to Gary Gentry of Quality Residential Inspections and Dick Whitfield of DPS Inspections for contributing to this piece. You can find more helpful information from Gary via his You Tube Channel and Facebook Page too.
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Great post. Thanks for sharing and posting!