For most people, buying a home will be the single largest investment they will make in their lifetime. Hiring a licensed home inspector while you are under contract to purchase a home is a small but crucial investment to help you make an informed decision about whether you would like to purchase the home and/or ask the sellers to make repairs.

Home inspectors educate you on the house, point out areas of concern and provide a detailed home inspection report, including a punch list for items that may need attention. Inspectors also show the potential homeowner essential items in case of an emergency, such as how to turn off all water to the home, shut off the electricity to the whole house, and shut off gas and boiler/furnace, to name a few. Home inspectors do a thorough inspection of the entire home from roof, to structural, electrical, safety concerns, pest reports, etc. If the home has well water, home inspectors can assist in taking water samples and bring the sample to the lab for a comprehensive water test to include PFOA/PFAS, among other items.

Septic systems are another costly area that should be inspected if you do not have public sewer. Licensed septic inspectors will inspect the tank and baffles and dig a few holes in the leach field to ensure the leach field and the entire septic system is in good working order. To replace a leach field is a costly endeavor and something that should not be ignored. Septic inspectors will also educate you on the septic system, advising what types of soaps to use, liquid vs. powder, what to flush down the toilet, and what not to put down your drain or flush.

Another important item is to ensure you have requested sufficient time for your home inspection regarding the due diligence deadline. One example is well water testing: the lab could be backed up if it is a busy real estate market, and it may take several days to receive the water results back. Also, if your deadline falls on a holiday or weekend, you may lose some days due to closed businesses. Another reason to think about giving yourself enough time for the home inspection is if the inspector flagged a concern in the home and you would like to call an expert in for that specific area. The expert may be booked out for several days or weeks.

In a competitive seller's market, buyers may be tempted to waive the home inspection. The danger in doing so is you run the risk of facing tens of thousands of dollars of repairs unexpectedly. Regardless of whether you are an experienced buyer or a first-time homeowner, in my professional opinion, it is not wise to waive or rush through home inspections; the risk is simply too great.

Caroline Verow, REALTOR®

Keller Williams Metropolitan, Bedford