As you may recall, a few weeks ago I talked about how a getting a home inspection benefits sellers. Today I will go over why buyers should also order an inspection once they are under contract. Joining me is Daniel Guthrie of Sea to Sea Home Inspections. In case you did not know, Sea to Sea Home Inspections is a one-stop shop that can handle all of your home inspection needs. In addition to home inspections, their services include wind mitigation reports, a four points insurance inspection, water testing, roof certifications, and pool inspections. They can also refer you to termite inspectors and other inspection specialists. A lot of people are unaware of what a wind mitigation is, but it is inexpensive and can save you a lot of money on your insurance costs. Wind mitigation programs were implemented by the state of Florida after the storms of 2004 prompted many insurance companies to take their business elsewhere. Since this caused the insurance rates of the remaining companies to skyrocket, they decided it was not fair to residents and forced them to adopt discounts for newer, stronger homes. Now, there are seven different wind mitigation discounts you can get. These cost roughly $100, but they are well worth it.

An inspection for an average-sized home in our area costs between $300 and $500.

So why hire a home inspector? For the same reason you would hire a mechanic to look at your car. After they evaluate everything about your home, you can make an educated decision about whether you should proceed with the purchase. Another benefit to getting a home inspection is your home inspector can educate you about the maintenance programs you will have for different areas of your home that will prevent future problems. The cost of a home inspection depends on a variety of factors (the home’s size, age, condition, etc.), but for an average-sized home in our area, it will cost anywhere from $300 to $500.

The most common issue Daniel finds with homes during his inspections is leaking roofs. Most Florida homes were damaged by storms in 2004 and 2005, and the new roofs that were installed on those homes then are now starting to age. These leaks are not anything major, but plumbing vents, roof-to-wall connections, and other vulnerable areas are definitely starting to show moisture stains.

If you have any more questions for Daniel, you can reach him by phone at (772) 539-1925. If you are thinking about buying or selling a home or have any other real estate needs, please feel free to give me a call or shoot me an email. I would be happy to help you.