If you have just submitted an offer on a home and it was accepted, you are ready to enter the world of escrow. One of the tasks that you need to accomplish quickly is hiring a home inspector to take a good look at your new property. This professional will provide you with an unbiased assessment of the home and surrounding property, identifying problem areas if they exist. There are many inspectors that you might wish to hire to take a look at the property.

Most buyers simply hire a professional to perform a general home inspection that looks at every room and area of the house, as well as taking a general look at the grounds. Your inspector should have a checklist for each room of the house. He or she should look at all the plumbing, ensure that appliances are functioning properly, check electrical outlets, inspect the attic and basement, check the foundation and basically give the home and all its systems a good once-over. It is rare that an inspector will not find even one small issue, but often these are just minor fixes that are easy to handle. Even if you are buying new construction, hire an inspector. The cost of this inspection really depends on how big of a home you are buying, but you should plan to spend about $300 or more for this service, and it is well worth the expense.

A home inspection is absolutely essential, but it is also wise to hire other types of inspectors to ensure that you have a solid idea about current and potential problems that might occur. For instance, termites often cannot be seen by a regular homeowner, but that doesn’t mean they haven’t been munching away on the house. A pest control expert can look for signs of termites as well as other types of pests.

If your home has some special features, you might need to hire some specialists to check out these items. A pool inspector is a good option for homes with a pool and/or a spa. If you have chimneys, you can hire an inspector who can come and look at the fireplace as well as the chimneys, and this is particularly important with an older home. For a home built prior to the 1970s, it can be good have someone check for signs of lead paint and asbestos, especially if the home’s ownership has remained consistent for many years. A roof inspector is also a good idea for almost any home, especially if your general inspector sees any evidence of disrepair.

Sometimes you are buying a home in an area where the ground is unstable, such as an earthquake-prone area. Homes react differently to seismic movement based on the type of ground on which they have been built. In addition, some areas are prone to soil problems, and a geologist can do a survey of the area as well as looking through your house and at your foundation for signs of cracks and settlement problems. Sometimes poor drainage and a lack of proper irrigation can cause homes to settle poorly as well, and a geologist can make recommendations to keep problems from occurring in the future.

Often, your realtor can some suggest some excellent inspectors, and they also often know a variety of contractors and service people that can help with any necessary repairs. If you are getting ready to purchase real estate in Fredericksburg or any Texas Hill Country real estate, contact the experts at Nixon Real Estate today.

Pammy McGrath loves reading real estate blogs. If you are looking for licensed real estate Fredericksburg TX agents, or to discover a Fredericksburg Texas homes for sale, please check out the Nixon Real Estate website now.