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By: Akiva Peshkos
Inspecting a resale house before you buy it is essential if you want to move in with confidence. A house is one of the largest and most significant purchases most of us ever make, something we will live with for years, so it pays to know before signing that it is really as good as it looks.
A home inspection (bedek bayit) is what keeps you from moving into a house you just bought and discovering that your life has turned into an ongoing round of repairs, renovations and legal disputes.
The risks in a resale apartment
Buying a house means judging elements you cannot properly assess with the naked eye: dampness that has not yet surfaced, cracks and other signs the structure has weakened, waterproofing and piping problems, and construction defects that show up as poor workmanship throughout the house.
The advantage of a home inspection is that an expert engineer brings sophisticated equipment and professional knowledge to document the full range of defects in a detailed opinion, so you can decide with far more confidence whether to buy.
That opinion also strengthens your hand in negotiating with the seller and supports a valuation that reflects the house's true worth.
Which professional to hire for a building inspection
Inspecting a house calls for broad professional knowledge and advanced equipment. When choosing which company will carry out the inspection, check its experience, its track record, and the level of service and support it offers.
It is also worth checking the company's record in court cases, so that if you ever need it, you get the best legal support and advice. Ask for a sample report too: it shows how the company writes up its findings and how clear they are.
Home inspection and related services
Construction defects touch several disciplines and professionals. When a home inspection turns up significant defects that lower the property's value, it is worth also hiring an appraiser, who combines the engineer's opinion with a valuation to set the loss in value, so you can plan your next steps accordingly.
For this reason, when choosing a company, check that it offers a range of coordinated services: when the professionals work together, you get the fullest and most complete picture possible.
The engineers of Arad Bedek Bayit, led by building engineer Ron Arad, whom courts appoint as their own expert on construction defects. The company has been inspecting apartments and buildings since 2001. Engineer Ron Arad · More about the company