Do I really need a home inspection? Can’t I do it myself?

It sounds easy, and many people believe they know houses well enough to do their own inspection. Others have family or friends in the trades willing to do the inspection for them. In our opinion, that’s a mistake. How much of a mistake will depend on what is missed.

Consider this: In the fifteen minutes to an hour most homebuyers spend walking through a home before making an offer, some of the most obvious considerations are often overlooked. Who has time to do a comprehensive evaluation of the attic, the heating system, the roof, the foundation, or the electrical system? And these are only a few of the hundreds of items included in a professional home inspection.

Realistically, there are few people with enough experience and proper training to provide a high-quality inspection of such a costly investment. A fresh coat of paint can cover a lot of problems and unless you are trained to know where to look, you will probably miss them.

That’s why a professional home inspection is such a valuable service for anyone buying a home. When you consider the cost, it is money well spent.