A primordial step before selling or buying

An essential tool to know the status of a property, from the roof to the foundations.

An inspection is an objective examination of the physical structure and systems of a house, from the roof to the foundations, explains the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI, for its acronym in English), organization responsible for raising awareness about the importance of quality controls and improve the professionalism of home inspectors in the United States.

"It is a process in which all the components of a house are reviewed: construction, roofing, plumbing, electrical system, heating, air conditioning, insulation, and ventilation; to then make a report with the result, "says Luis Alcaráz, Inspector Inspect Tu Casa in Minneapolis.

Although inspection is not a mandatory step when buying or selling, it can be considered a vital tool for negotiating the price of the house, because it offers more detailed information that is sometimes not known by the real estate agent or the same owner.

For China Guzmán, a 35-year-old Puerto Rican who was in the process of buying a house in Minneapolis during the summer of 2011, the result of the inspection led to a change of plans. "The final report showed me so many things that had to be repaired, that everything indicated that this purchase would become a headache in the future," he says. "Then I gave up and kept looking."

"A complete and detailed inspection is necessary when you are going to invest as big as the one I made," says Guzmán, who on the second occasion hired a cheaper service but was less specific. "[The inspector] did not notice any damage in the basement, nor did he try the electrical appliances of the house, he only noticed the plumbing, electricity and the aesthetics of the house."

Why do an inspection

Jim Hansen, JCH Home Inspection Service in New Jersey, says that 85% to 90% of their customers are buyers, while unfortunately, only 10% are sellers interested in knowing precisely how the property before delivering it.

"Although as owner you think you are conscious of the state of the house, there could be structural problems that are more difficult to detect, perhaps you do not know," says Hansen. An inspection will then allow you to analyze the aspects to be fixed and choose to fix them to put a higher price on the property or negotiate with the buyer. And if the inspection report is clear, it will mean a point in your favor.

For the buyer, the inspection is advisable regardless of the age or size of the house. It is a misconception to think that because it is new construction, it is not necessary to do the inspection; As future owners, it is essential to know the status of the components of your investment. If it is an older house, which has been made modifications, additions or structural, electrical or plumbing, it is essential to know if these were made with permission from the mayor and if they passed inspection. Otherwise, the new owner accepts responsibility: the mayor's office, for example, may require the new owner to show the corresponding permits and even collapse walls for the inspector to examine the electrical connections and more.

Once the is completed , you will receive a detailed report with photos, which you can discuss with your lawyer before signing the acceptance contract, and in this way determine if the negotiations are fair, if a counteroffer could be made with a price consistent with the arrangements that must be made or if it is better to cancel them. You should know that you can always check ASHI's Standards of Practice and ask for more accuracy in the review.

Finally, consider how much money you are willing to invest in your property and compare the average price - $ 300 to $ 400 - of a proper inspection in relation to the results you will get. There is no doubt that the inspection has its benefits: You can know in depth the property in which you are going to invest and identify possible repairs, and perhaps the most important thing is your tranquility.