Five Reasons Why To Always Get a Home Inspection

Buyers are finding ways to get their contract to win in bidding wars but there is one thing they should not skip out on. Some buyers today are skipping home inspections to entice sellers to choose them, however, this is not in the best interest of any buyer.

“With a lack of housing inventory in Louisville and across the country, it’s tempting for buyers to waive the home inspection, but there’s extreme danger in doing that,” Brad Lawler, the HomeTeam Inspection Service owner of HomeTeam Inspection Service of Kentuckiana says. “Waiving an inspection can open a buyer up to unforeseen costs down the road that could have otherwise been avoided.”

Here are five reasons why you should never skip a home inspection according to Lawler.

1. An inspection can help buyers avoid overpaying.

With such a hot market, home prices are on the rise and buyers are already paying a premium for a home. According to a report released by Redfin, the median home price in the U.S. rose 17% year over year to $341,250. Bidding wars are causing buyers to bid asking and often over asking, so added expenses for repairs are not usually feasible.

“Recently, one of our home inspectors uncovered a structural problem that ended up costing the seller $35,000 to repair,” Lawler says. “If the buyer had purchased that home without an inspection, they would have not only paid a premium for the home but they would have also been forced to handle the costly repair on top of it all. It’s a fast way to rack up negative equity. Today’s buyers are already overspending, so taking on additional risk by waiving the inspection is cause for concern.”

2. An inspection can uncover problems that the seller might not even know about.

By law, sellers are required to disclose any problems they are aware of, but this does not mean there aren't underlying issues that they might not know about. An inspector can make sure all issues are out in the open and can be resolved. A buyer can negotiate the price of the home to reflect the cost of the repairs.

“I don’t know many sellers who would have gone into their crawl space or climbed up onto their roofs prior to putting their home on the market,” Lawyer says. “We’re also seeing a lot of issues on homes that have exterior insulation and finish systems. If that type of product is installed incorrectly — and it often is — it can cause significant damage to the house because water will permeate the system.”

3. An inspection gives buyers a chance to budget for future repairs.

“One of the things that we do at HomeTeam is provide buyers with a punch list of maintenance items, so they can start to budget for future repairs and replacements,” Lawler says. “For example, we look at the age of the HVAC system and offer buyers a timeline of how long it will likely last. You don’t want to wait until something breaks to fix or replace it.”

4. An inspection can uncover problems that might affect your health.

Things such as radon cannot be seen, smelled or tasted so the only way to make sure the home you are purchasing does not have radon is to test for it. A home inspection will include environmental testing looking for mold, lead paint, air pollutants and pests.

“Unfortunately, we often have problems with radon in Louisville because of the type of lot that the city is situated on,” Lawler says. “Radon is the leading cause of lung cancer for nonsmokers and it can be in any type of home. It doesn’t matter if it’s brand new construction or a third-floor condominium.”

5. An inspection can prevent buyers' remorse.

“Buyers are closing on houses faster than ever in order to stay competitive and we’ve been getting a lot of buyers’ remorse calls lately,” Lawler says. “We recently heard from a buyer who was advised by his agent to skip the home inspection in order to close quickly on the home. When the buyer walked into their new home they were met with serious electrical problems that will likely cost thousands of dollars to repair. It doesn’t have to be that way,” Lawler says. “A home inspection shouldn’t be an obstacle. At HomeTeam, our goal is to help real estate agents and buyers reach the closing table with the knowledge that they’re making an informed decision. You can’t do that if you waive the inspection.”

If you are considering purchasing a home, call a local Realtor who can help you through the process. A Realtor will be able to determine what's in your best interest when it comes to making an offer on your next home.

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Premier St. Tammany Parish Master Planned Community

Bedico Creek Preserve, a premier master-planned conservation community in Madisonville, is nestled among nearly 500 acres of green space, lakes and ponds. Preserving and caring for the natural environment and wildlife is a top priority here. Life moves at a slower pace and there’s a healthy respect for the innate beauty of land and water. More than 200 acres of parks, 20+ acres of lakes and water features, a 375-acre nature preserve, and many natural amenities make it a thoughtful choice for discriminating homebuyers.

Driving into the community, the well-appointed main entrance is accented with twin sugar kettle waterfalls on either side and a wide thoroughfare crosses a quaint wooden bridge over Bedico Creek. Passing the gatehouse into the community, even the casual visitor will notice a careful cultivation of the atmosphere of the Northshore of yesteryear.

Inside the community you’ll find a collection of neighborhoods surrounded by thoughtfully planned, man-made amenities. The Rod & Paddle Club complex overlooks a sparkling lake and features the community swimming pool, a large party pavilion, a picnic area with colorful wind sails, a quaint fishing pier, a nine-hole disc golf course and an outdoor fire pit at Sunset Point.  It’s an ideal place for outdoor entertaining, leisurely paddling a canoe on the lake, or spending time with family and friends.
A rustic trail system for hiking within the wildlife preserves of the community and 3.5 miles of lovely paved walking/hiking/biking trails gracefully meander through the surrounding neighborhoods.  These trails connect parks, lakes, ponds and nature preserves to the neighborhoods, making it easy and convenient for homeowners to enjoy their natural surroundings.

Bedico Creek is not just another typical subdivision. It’s a community comprised of beautifully designed new and custom homes, located in individual neighborhoods that range in price from the $230’s to more than $1 million. Multi-generational families will find neighborhoods that suit first-time homebuyers just starting out, growing families, or retirees looking for a low-maintenance, carefree lifestyle.

Deer Park offers smaller lot sizes and square footage homes from the $230’s to $260’s. Courtyard and Garden feature low-maintenance garden homes that begin in the $290’s.  Larger lot neighborhoods like Cypress Crossing, Lakeview, Longview, and Preserve are made up of single-family homes for growing families from the $300’s to the $500’s. Heron Point (just opening this Spring with its own gated access), Estates and Manors were created with upwardly mobile families in mind. These homes start in the $480’s and exceed $1 million.  Two new neighborhoods, Nature Walk and Heron Lake are slated to open later this year. All of them have water or nature views available. Most offer the availability to invest in a lot and build on it in the homeowner’s time frame.

Building a new home is a very important investment of time and money. Every one of the recommended builders at Bedico Creek Preserve has gone through a careful screening process to ensure that buyers are going to get some of the best, most qualified builders in the area. These preferred builders are ready to design and build homes on a lot purchased by the homeowner, or homeowners can use their own plans and builder in most neighborhoods, with approval by the Architectural Control Committee.

Located on Highway 1085 in Madisonville, in the booming I-12 Corridor, Bedico Creek is just minutes from shopping, restaurants, entertainment, and healthcare facilities, with more being added each year.  Homeowners with children have access to some of the best public and private schools that St. Tammany Parish has to offer.

Bedico Creek is a David Waltemath development. During the past twenty-five years he has created many extraordinary Gulf South communities, including English Turn, The Estates of Northpark, Highlands of Santa Maria, and Green Trails in Baton Rouge.  His track record of success and commitment to the community speaks for itself.

Several stunning new homes will be showcased at Bedico Creek Preserve in this year’s Northshore Home Builders Association Parade of Homes. Don’t miss the opportunity to explore this exceptional community, its stunning homes and beautiful neighborhoods.  See for yourself the value of building your future at Bedico Creek. Bring your Realtor, if you like; they’re always welcome.  More information is available about this fast growing, premier St. Tammany Parish master planned community by e-mailing Info@LiveBedico.com or calling 985- 845-4200.