Our real estate agents know it's easy to get excited about North Conway homes for sale. As a prospective buyer, however, you should always be careful to take the right steps to protect your interests. One of the most important of these is to hire a home inspector before you go forward on a transaction.

What Is a Home Inspection and Why Do You Need One?

A home inspection job is simple: Document the property's condition from top to bottom and make you aware of any potential issues. A home inspection report is exhaustive, often holding dozens of pages, covering every element of every room (and often, the exterior spaces).

The main issues a home inspector looks for are those that can lead to a large repair bill in the future. If a home inspector finds problems, this can lead to negotiating leverage for potential buyers.

Most conventional home lenders require you to have a home inspection before they come through with funding. Even if you are planning to pay in cash, however, a home inspection is essential. It helps prevent surprises that can complicate homeownership in the future.

Ask the Right Questions to Choose Your Home Inspector

Choosing a reputable home inspector who will provide you with all the information you need to make an informed decision is vital. As the buyer, you usually pay 100% for the home inspection and often have a time limit. Even if time is tight, compare your options before you decide.

Here are some key questions to ask:

• "What Do You Check?"
  The major building systems—roof, sewer or septic, and electrical—are the pieces most likely to cause big problems. But detail work is often left to separate experts. Home inspectors confine their work to visual inspection, so their "wiring check" may be limited to flipping light switches in each room.
• "What Do You Charge?"
  Home inspection costs generally run between $200 and $800. Fees are variable based on the size of the home and the required timeline. Home inspectors are paid on the day of the inspection, so you need to know in advance and make appropriate arrangements.
• "How Long Have You Been in Business?"
  These days, a reputable business will have reviews on third-party websites like Yelp and Google Reviews. Fake reviews can be posted, but reviews (positive or negative) cannot be removed by the business once written. Check the inspector's statements about their experience against these sources.
• "Can I Come Along?"
  A home inspector can't cut a hole into the wall or do any other restructuring work that might be unsafe, so there's no reason for a skilled inspector not to have the buyer along. Of course, you might not be crawling into the attic, but you can ask questions and get feedback as the inspection unfolds.
• "How Long Will It Take?"
  While good inspectors don't mind the buyer, the seller is another story. Most inspections occur during regular working hours, typically when the seller is not home. Schedules are estimates only, but they will give you a sense of what to expect, especially if you want to be present.
• "Can I See a Sample Report?"
  All observations uncovered during a home inspection should be documented in the form of a report. The standards for these vary widely, although there are industry associations that advocate best practices. In general, the more photographic evidence comes with a report, the more useful it is for you.

Contact us to find out more about White Mountains real estate today.