One of the “extra” costs that is sometimes dismissed by would-be buyers is paying for a house inspection.
The saving could be, as the saying goes, penny-wise.
A house inspection is not frivolous, nor an unnecessary expense. It’s always important, and often vital.
Why pay hundreds of dollars for a house inspector to tell you that the house you want to buy is just fine?
Is it?
There’s a lot of things to check. An underground oil tank. Asbestos insulation. Wiring not up to code. Insufficient smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Do-it-yourself carpentry that is unsafe. Concrete leaks.
That’s a short list of things that can go wrong when you buy a house without making it subject to inspection.
There have been estimates that 40 per cent of homes would not pass inspection. There are estimates that go into six figures for repairs after new owners take possession.
A good place to start is contacting the Home Inspectors Association of B.C. — or calling Jennifer (604-726-8768) or Dale (604-922-3353) for expert advice.