| When you bought your home, chances are pretty | | | | (or hire a professional to do). Since the |
| good that you paid a professional home | | | | report should cover all of the systems and |
| inspector to check it out before you bought | | | | significant features of your home, you can |
| it. It may have been especially useful at the | | | | record on it (or a copy) the dates and |
| time in your decision regarding the home's | | | | expenditures for all work on your home. This |
| value. But do you know what you did with the | | | | becomes a handy reference for you, especially |
| report once the purchase negotiations were | | | | when you decide to sell your home. |
| completed? | | | | |
| | | | We've been recommending for years now that |
| Your home inspection is good for much more | | | | home sellers pay for a professional home |
| than simply a tool for negotiating | | | | inspection when they list their home for |
| adjustments to the sale price. Once you've | | | | sale. Regardless of the improvements you may |
| purchased the home, the home inspector's | | | | have made, every home inspection will turn up |
| report can be useful for prioritizing | | | | at least some negatives. But, if you are |
| maintenance, improvements and upgrades that | | | | diligent about your home maintenance and |
| need to be made to your home. The report | | | | improvements and keep good records, you |
| should have addressed all of the major | | | | increase the likelihood that your home will |
| systems and features of your home with | | | | have a favorable report. Home buyers are |
| indications regarding projected life | | | | faced with so many good options in today's |
| expectancy (of the system). Some reports also | | | | market, and they tend to prefer homes that |
| include recommendations for maintenance to | | | | have been well-maintained and are move-in |
| keep systems in working order. | | | | ready. |
| | | | |
| Whether you've just bought your home or you | | | | So make the most of what you paid for and dig |
| bought it years ago, the inspector's report | | | | out your inspection report. Chances are, |
| undoubtedly identified areas of your home | | | | there are some areas of your home you haven't |
| which need some attention. Reviewing the | | | | even thought of which will be easy to improve |
| report should give you some idea of what | | | | today, increasing the likelihood of an easier |
| routine seasonal maintenance you need to do | | | | sale in the future. |