Home Inspections: The "Side Effects" of Home Buying?

Aside from Super Bowl Sunday, I really don’t like TV commercials.  I will change the channel and watch just about anything else during a commercial break just to spare myself from the endless amounts of car, furniture, credit card, and pharmaceutical ads.  The final straw was when I saw the Lamisil commercial featuring Digger the Dermatophyte and that horrible animated toenail.  I officially swore off commercials at that very moment.  Thank goodness for the DVR.

My husband however, does not share the same OCD tendencies, and insists on watching every commercial when he has control of the remote.   The past week of new Fall TV and football watching was been particularly painful for me.

The other day as I was going over a home inspection report, thus not in control of the remote, a prescription drug ad with 30 seconds of side effects came on and it hit me: Inspections are the potential “side effects” of home buying.

Before I continue, let me say, I love home inspections.  They are one of the most important and informative steps of the home buying process.  While buyers often fall in love with the surface of a house, the inspection digs deeper to show them what they are really buying.  It looks past the pretty kitchen and heads up to the hot, dark attic.  It shows the leaks stains, exposed wires, and stucco cracks.  The home inspection report not only tells buyers what needs to be fixed immediately but also points out what may cause problems in the future, aka, the side effects.

Just like drug companies are required to list the sometimes horrifying side effects of a drug, a home inspector is required to disclose the potential issues of a house, even if it takes away some of the fun of buying it.  This can be quite eye opening for certain buyers, especially first timers.  When a licensed home inspector is telling them that the A/C may need to be replaced in a few years and the pool will need resurfaced sooner rather than later, you can see the reality set in.

My advice to potential homebuyers is simple: be prepared for both the joys and burdens of homeownership.  Talk with your Realtor and ask the home inspector lots of questions.  Most home inspectors I have worked with love to teach the buyers about the inner workings of their new home. 

Further, be financially prepared for the unexpected by setting aside money that can be used for home repairs and maintenance.  Realize that even with potential side effects there can also be great reward. 

Take a page from the guy enjoying a super fun round of golf in the cholesterol commercial or the family frolicking in the allergy commercial. You don’t see them worrying about side effects, do you?

Melanie Atkinson is a Westchase-area Realtor with The Wood Team at Coldwell Banker.  She can be reached at 813-368-6084 or Melanie.atkinson@floridamoves.com.  Follow Melanie on Twitter @CBMelanieA or "Like" The Wood Team on Facebook.