Whether you’re getting ready to purchase your dream home, put your house on the market, or remodel your space, getting a thorough, professional home inspection is a vital part of the process.
When it comes to buying a property, it’s vital for a homeowner to know exactly what they’re getting into, before they get their hands dirty. For most of us, purchasing a home is a major investment — and one of the biggest and most important decisions that we’ll ever make. Discovering unforeseen issues down the line could jeopardize this investment, and add significant costs to your bottom line.
Now, when we say “getting your hands dirty,” we mean working with your real estate team, moving into your new home, and making the space your own — not attempting to perform a home inspection by yourself!
In a world of DIY, a home inspection is something that should always be left to licensed, certified, experienced professionals.
There’s a lot of information out there these days, guides to almost every subject available right at your fingertips. People can learn through DIY YouTube tutorials and read blog posts to pick up new knowledge. If you’re a current homeowner looking to make big changes before a sale, or a buyer in the market to own a home, it can be tempting to consider going it alone.
Maybe you know homes pretty well — but does that mean that you’re ready to perform your own home inspection?
A home inspection is a non-invasive visual examination of a home’s systems and components, intended to ensure that everything is structurally sound and safe for you and your family, or your future buyers. You want a quality inspection, from an objective professional who knows exactly what to look for and who is uniquely suited to survey the property on your behalf.
A licensed, certified, educated, and experienced home inspection professional will utilize his or her unique expertise to properly assess the condition and safety of the property — and along the way, they could save you enormously on time and costs when it comes to one of the biggest and most important investments of your life.
As you take the next steps in assessing a potential property or getting your current home ready to sell, hiring a professional home inspector is not only important, it’s necessary. Here’s why:
Providing A Clear and Unbiased Perspective
One of the main things you need for a diligent and thorough home inspection is an unbiased and impartial view of the home and its systems. As the homeowner, or even as a prospective owner, you might not be able to step back and look at a home’s systems and components with clear eyes. You may “want everything to be fine,” and therefore, may only be able to make a biased assessment of the property. It can be hard to get your emotions out of the way. For the most accurate overview, you need to obtain a non-partisan, third-party opinion from a trained and knowledgeable expert.
Catching Little Details Red Flags You May Overlook
You may think you’re quite knowledgeable on all of a home’s systems. If you’ve lived in the home, then you may even feel you know it front to back. Whether you’re preparing to sell your home or buy a new one, it’s easy to miss the little details that can make a big impact down the line. Remember, inspectors are trained and educated to look in places you perhaps haven’t thought of or didn’t even know were necessary for a complete evaluation. An inspector also has a true working knowledge of hundreds of common home systems, providing insight that can be hard to gain from a DIY guide.
An experienced inspector will know how to catch potential “red flags” and check out every accessible nook and cranny of a property. A licensed inspector knows the many elements and systems that are important to inspect, including systems that can be confounding, like plumbing, electrical, and structural elements. Sure, you can download a checklist to check electrical fixtures or see if a home’s plumbing is working properly, but a trained inspector knows what to look for, down to the last detail, whether that means reviewing wiring and circuit breakers, catching signs of problematic pests that aren’t easy to spot, or checking cracks.
Bringing a Deep Knowledge and Professional Certification
While the internet can be a handy and helpful resource, it’s important to remember that informal guides are often incomplete, or even inaccurate. Only a knowledgeable, resourceful professional can truly assess compliance issues, and offer up-to-the-minute insights on your home’s most important systems. It’s important to note that home inspectors are not code enforcers.
At the same time? Keep in mind that home inspectors must be licensed in Illinois, and more and more states are requiring the same. While you, a friend, or a family member may be a contractor and have a valid opinion on a property, a licensed inspector’s opinion of condition will hold the most weight in the real estate negotiation process.
Guaranteeing Their Work and Providing a Continuing, Thorough Education
Completing a DIY project can be rewarding, but there will always be times when you need a trusted resource or a knowledgeable professional to call. Overlooking a problem or making a mistake could end up costing you extra money, time, and effort — precisely at the moment when what you really want to be doing is planning for and enjoying your dream home.
At Windy City Home Inspection, we back our work with industry-leading warranties and services, including our 90 Day Limited Structural Warranty, MoldSafe Policy, and SewerGard Policy. You need more than just a home inspection, you need professionals you can depend on even after the job is done. Recalled products? Mold found in the home that wasn’t discovered at the time of inspection? Sewer and water lines experiencing unexpected wear and tear? When these issues arise, you’ll want to ensure you have trained, experienced professionals on the line, ready to help.
What to Expect with Windy City Home Inspection
Whether you’re buying a property, selling a property, or just want to know how to maintain your property, Windy City Home Inspection is here to help. With Windy City Home Inspection, you can expect a diligent, thorough inspection covering all the bases and never cutting corners.
When searching for the right home inspector, it’s important to find someone you can trust — and that’s why we are here for you. The inspectors at Windy City Home Inspection, Inc. are licensed by the State of Illinois, certified, and insured. Each home inspection is backed by our Warranty and Protection Plan. Furthermore, we pride ourselves on our superior customer service. If you ever have questions, even years after your home inspection, we will be here to answer them — even if it means returning to your home.
At Windy City Home Inspection, Inc., we perform inspections to the highest standards — yours. Backed by a consulting team with more than 60 years of experience, Windy City Home Inspection is committed to excellence. Have a question? Let us help.
