As a new home buyer, the first important question that you must ask yourself is “do I need a home inspection?” The answer can only be yes. Imagine this scenario. You dream of home ownership for years, you work countless hours and save your hard earned cash for that day when you can finally consider buying a home. You then commit to servicing a mortgage for the next 25 years, when you factor in interest payments; the home you are about to purchase could cost you as much as double the purchase price. You walk through your dream home and in a matter of 30 minutes fall in love with the location, the layout and perhaps you overlook the décor since you also look forward to investing further hard earned money to introduce your own new interior finishes.

Someone in your family, perhaps coworker or good friend is involved in the construction industry and can surely help you out by walking through the home, give you his or her opinion of the integrity of the structure you are about to purchase. But will this person be trained to evaluate your new home the way it needs to be looked at? Will this person dedicate the hours required, crawl into attics, crawlspaces, open electrical panels or climb onto the roof. Will your acquaintance bring with him a track record of having inspected hundreds of homes following a carefully scripted checklist of routine items that need to be evaluated? Will your acquaintance prepare a detailed analytical report that in plain English, tells you a story about the home you are about to purchase? Will your acquaintance give you the peace of mind in knowing that nothing was overlooked? Will you have a written document that can be used to best negotiate the purchase price of your home with the seller based on the actual condition of the home? Will you be able to sleep at night?

The answer for every home buyer is: A home inspection by a certified professional is a must! Hiring a professional home inspector at the beginning of the pursuit of purchasing a new home can save you thousands of dollars. At Inspection FIRST Inc., we evaluate the following:

• Roof, vents, flashings, and trim.
  
• Gutters and downspouts.
  
• Skylight, chimney and other roof penetrations.
  
• Decks, stoops, porches, walkways, and railings.
  
• Eaves, soffit and fascia.
  
• Grading and drainage.
  
• Basement, foundation and crawlspace.
  
• Water penetration and foundation movement.
  
• Heating systems.
  
• Cooling systems.
  
• Main water shut off valves.
  
• Water heating system.
  
• Interior plumbing fixtures and faucets.
  
• Drainage sump pumps with accessible floats.
  
• Electrical service line and meter box.
  
• Main disconnect and service amperage.
  
• Electrical panels, breakers and fuses.
  
• Grounding and bonding.
  
• GFCI’s and AFCI’s.
  
• Fireplace damper door and hearth.
  
• Insulation and ventilation.
  
• Garage doors, safety sensors, and openers.
  
• And much more.