If you’re looking at Lake Keowee homes for sale, one of the major steps you should think about is how and when to hire a home inspector. Often, when you find the perfect home at the right price, it may appear to be in great condition. That’s because it’s been staged to showcase its best features and minimize any issues that may exist. That’s also why it’s so important to make sure a good home inspector will find what may be wrong with your future home.
Before you close or make an offer, it’s time to get an independent home inspection.
Photo Credit: The Reserve at Lake Keowee
Why get a home inspection?
The American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI) reports that over 90 percent of home sales involve an inspection. Those numbers provide an indication of just how important a home inspection is.
In fact, one of the most important reasons to get a home inspection is because any problems found before the sale becomes the responsibility of the seller to fix. If you wait to have one done until after the sale is final, or if you don’t have one done at all, any issues that arise once the sale is done become your problem.
Some of the most common issues include situations in homes that just aren’t well cared-for. Neglecting things like leaky faucets, the replacement of heating or A/C filters, and poorly functioning furnaces can lead to more severe problems down the road—and something a buyer won’t want to deal with.
If you’re purchasing a foreclosure, in particular, watch for mold from excess moisture or a lack of ventilation if nobody has been living in the home.
Keep in mind that offers can be written with conditions included, too. For example, if your home inspection comes back clean, you can continue with the sale with complete confidence in what you’re purchasing. But if there are any issues brought up in the inspection, you can either reduce your offer, ask for the seller to pay for repairs, or back out of the agreement completely.
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What does a home inspection entail?
It’s good to know what to expect from the home inspection process. South Carolina law requires any person wishing to be a licensed home inspector file with the SC Residential Builders Commission. Therefore, you can trust there’s oversight.
The end result of a home inspection is a detailed report that outlines the following conditions or issues:
- Heating and cooling system
- Electrical system
- Plumbing
- Walls
- Ceilings
- Flooring
- Foundation
- Roof
- Drainage
- Basement
- Termites
- Chemicals and gasses (such as asbestos or methane gas)
- Lead
- Rodents
Don’t be afraid to ask any questions of your home inspector to get clear answers about what is found. And always discuss the final report with your realtor when looking at Lake Keowee homes for sale.
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What is covered in a home inspection?
First of all, you’ll pay between $300 to $500 for a home inspection, which depends on the person doing the inspection as well as factors like the size and age of the home, and the type of home.
Next, it’s good to know that an inspection really only covers moderate to serious issues. That means small issues like wear and tear will not be covered. A more detailed report may be available; however, you’ll want to discuss that with your inspector. Keep in mind, too, that a request like this may lead to a higher fee.
Finally, you may want to walk through the home with your inspector. This walk-through will help you learn about the process and what to look for, but it will also help you look for those smaller flaws you’ll want to fix further down the road.
Lake Keowee, South Carolina
What should I look for in a home inspector?
If an inspection has already been done by the seller, you’ll also want to keep in mind that hiring your own inspector will help ensure there’s agreement in what should be fixed before the purchase. Don’t rely on the seller’s inspection, which may not paint an accurate picture.
Your Realtor will let you know if an inspector is hired as part of his or her process. If your agent doesn’t hire someone on his or her own, you can ask for a referral. They often have connections in the field to make a good recommendation. And remember, South Carolina law requires home inspectors to be fully licensed, which should help ease some stress in knowing who to look for.
Schedule an appointment with our experienced agents when you’re ready to search for Lake Keowee homes for sale.
