In the current marketplace, buying a home can be rushed and stressful. Placing a high bid on a home won’t even guarantee that you come out the winner, and with so many homes disappearing so fast, it’s easy to be tempted to skip a few steps. After all, things like a home inspection only make more work for the seller.

While it’s true that mortgage lenders and banks don’t require a home inspection, it’s not something you should be ready to throw out the window. In such a competitive housing market, though, many buyers are looking for ways to make the process easier for the seller and make their application stand out.

If you’re in a similar situation and are considering skipping a home inspection by Orlando home inspectors, here’s why you should think twice. 

Why You Shouldn’t Skip a Home Inspection

  1. Hidden Safety and Health Hazards

A home may look alright at first glance, but without a knowledgeable and close inspection, there could be many hidden health and safety hazards. Home inspections will make you aware of these problems before you go through with a sale. You might not uncover these problems for weeks, months, or even years if you forgo one.

Some common problems that are uncovered consist of electrical wiring hazards, fire hazards, and carbon monoxide hazards. Without a thorough investigation, you simply don’t know what you’re walking into with a new home.

  1. Expensive Repairs

Again, any home may look like it’s in tip-top shape from the untrained eye. Home inspectors, however, will notice anything that could lead to costly repairs. The home’s HVAC system may not be functional, or the roof may be on the cusp of collapsing. These are both costly repairs, and once you purchase the home, you’re responsible for them.

Home inspections can reveal repairs that are so expensive that it isn’t worth the purchase. A new home may look gorgeous, but if there are major foundation repairs necessary, you could end up paying half the cost of the house in repairs alone.

When it comes to home repairs, you can often get the seller to lower the selling price by however much the repair will cost. However, if you don’t get a home inspection, you’re stuck paying for both the selling price and the repair costs.

  1. Illegal Additions

That apartment above the garage might seem like a nice addition. Or maybe a recently completed basement looks like the perfect game room.

Without the proper knowledge, you could have no idea that these little projects were completed without the proper permits or entirely against the law. Rooms or extra additions like garages and sheds need to be built to code, and if they aren’t, you’ll be plagued with tax and insurance problems. Even though you didn’t build them, you’d be held responsible for them.

Home inspections assure you that everything is up to code and legal, so you aren’t surprised after the sale goes through.

  1. Protection

If you’re buying a foreclosed property, you should expect further complications. Often, these properties have been abandoned under less than ideal circumstances and haven’t been maintained. While many foreclosed properties will be cleaned before being put on the market, this won’t reveal any problems like mold, plumbing concerns, or other hidden concerns.

Even if your prospective home isn’t a foreclosed property, getting a home inspection provides an extra layer of buying protection. If anything pops up that is a deal breaker for you, you have a way out of an otherwise binding contract. While the home may look otherwise perfect, a home inspection can protect you from a too costly or too difficult investment.

Conclusion

Many buyers feel rushed to close sales these days. Homes don’t stay on the market for long, and they’re willing to do anything to finally purchase a new home. While it may be tempting to overlook a home inspection in favor of closing quicker or making it easier on the seller, the risks that come with such a decision are not worth it.