There is a folktale about six blind men and their first encounter with an elephant. Each touched just one part of the elephant, so they had only a minimal idea of what the animal was like. It wasn’t until they put all the pieces together that they were able to envision what an elephant actually looked like. The trunk, legs, ears, and other parts are so vastly different that they do not depict what the entire animal is like. It is much that way with a house. If you miss one critical aspect, you might not have a full idea of the condition of the home. It is easy to miss something important when you do not have the expertise of a house inspector, so every home buyer should hire a professional to ensure nothing is missed.
There are many scenarios that you hope to avoid by hiring a house inspector. For example, if you’ve put all the money you have into the down payment, what will you use to replace the roof that is leaking? If it was found to be in need of replacement before closing, it will give you the option to choose a different house or renegotiate the selling price. You could get the seller to foot the bill or give a credit at closing so you have the funds to take care of it. The same holds true for other expensive components, such as the HVAC system. Others, such as foundation problems, are extremely important to find out before closing, since the home could be structurally unsound.
If you want to be sure you are seeing all parts of the “elephant,” reach out to us at Towne & Country Property Inspections to schedule an appointment. We will send out an experienced house inspector who can help you see the full situation to give you peace of mind you are getting the home you envision.