There are several reasons to get a home inspection before doing any remodeling. If you plan on staying in the house, it’s the only way to understand what is happening with your home’s shape and structure.
If you plan to sell your house, if there will be any remodeling or demolition work done, or if you are unsure how much work needs to be done, conducting a new construction home inspection can save you from costly mistakes. Here are five reasons why a pre-remodel inspection is the best way to go.
1. You save Money by Understanding the Scope
Everyone needs to know what they are getting into before starting any construction project. If your home requires significant work, but you have no idea how extensive it will be, you could end up paying for more than needed. An inspection of your home’s current state can help you better understand how much work it will take to bring it back up to par and what sort of costs this will take.
An inspection from somewhere like this company offering Portland Oregon home inspections, or a similar firm in your area, can also help you see if there is something that you want to do but are unsure of how much it will cost. For example, if you plan on painting the walls in your kitchen, a re-remodel inspection can show you the cost before you start painting those walls.
2. You learn about the Underlying Structure
Some of the worst damage and wear come from things you cannot see: foundation cracks, rotten boards, and other areas that could cause problems in the future. When you often don’t get a remodel projected, you’re unaware of what has been covered over time. You may not even realize a problem until you start working on one of the walls and find out that the wood around that area is rotted out.
When you have a home inspection, you can see what the roof structure looks like, where the joists are, if your house was originally built over an old foundation, and what problems there may be beneath the surface. A pre-remodel inspection can show you just how much work will be needed to restore your house.
3. You Can Understand What Work needs to be done
If you have never done any remodeling in your home, this may be hard for you to understand. But if you are doing any remodeling or even just aiming to do some home improvement, getting an inspection is a great way to discover exactly what your plans will entail.
An inspection will show you the structural problems with your home, how much work it will cost, and how long it will take to complete each project phase. You may see areas of your house that need work that weren’t obvious when planning your plans. If you are unsure about some of the changes, an inspection will give you the peace of mind that your remodeling job won’t be wasted.
4. Avoiding Future Repairs
Although most of the costs are covered by the warranty on your home’s construction, there are some small items covered by you as well. Repairs on leaking pipes and protection from freezing temperatures with heat tape for pipes to prevent restricted flow and the dreaded burst pipe.
Issues with your basement can add up over time but will be avoided by having a pre-remodel inspection first. You will be able to see what problems you might encounter in the future, allowing you to fix any problems before they become bigger.
5. You Can Protect Yourself from Unfair Claims
Many contractors will try to get you to pay for work they thought needed to be done but weren’t. A pre-remodel inspection can help you separate the good from the bad, allowing you to make sure you’re only paying for the construction issues that need fixing. It’s also a way of protecting yourself if you have a contractor who tries to pull something over your own eyes.
Although they are not legal requirements, you should get the most up-to-date inspection of your home. You can get a home inspection at any time, but it’s best to do it before starting any big projects or remodeling.
If you’re going to have a project done in your home, it is best to have someone who has a thorough knowledge of construction and knows how to see the problems that could arise so that they can be solved ahead of time as opposed to after too much money has been spent.
It is also important to realize that there are many different types of home inspectors. A certified inspector such as madison al home inspectors can give you an accurate report and extra help regarding your overall safety for your family.