You have found the perfect townhouse for sale on DDProperty that is within your price range, and looks to be in a spectacular condition. However, it is critical that you remember that, especially when it comes to houses for sale, it may have been dressed to increase curb appeal, show off the best features, and hide possible flaws. Before you take the final plunge and close on that property, even before you make an offer, consider having an inspector look through the building.

Some sellers hire the services of inspectors and appraisers in order to prepare their residence for a sale. Such sellers are also fully aware that a buyer can ask to have another one done. In many parts of Asia, there is no clear law on the checking of properties. However, it is expected that a seller addresses any of the purchaser’s queries on possible material defects. Some of the questions buyers are likely to ask include the last time repairs were done around the property to how your relationships with your neighbors have been.

For the Person Looking to Purchase

Even before you make a deposit and take on a mortgage, it is critical that you understand virtually every little bit of the home you want to purchase. This will help you know whether everything in the house is functioning and in good working condition. Make sure that the HVAC system is not about to give up and die, that the roof does not bring in a leak and that the foundation is not cracked. Once you organize an inspection to be done by the professionals before committing to the sale, any problems identified will be for the person selling to solve. If a purchaser prefers not to have somebody check the premises, the problem ultimately becomes the buyer’s.

The number house checks are increasing every year, with the United States recording over 90 percent of real estate sales that are done after inspection, according to the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI). The increasing digits everywhere else are also an indicator on how significant it has become to have somebody take a good look at a property in the real estate purchasing process.

Considering how critical a proper inspection is, purchasing a property should be based on the inspector’s report. As you make the written offer, add the inspection report as part of your conditions of the purchase. The report clears the house of any errors or damages, thus allowing the buyer to confidently proceed with the rest of sale process. Should the report come back negative, it is the seller’s responsibility to make repairs. Otherwise, the purchaser can reduce the offer, or even back out of the purchase contract.

For the Person Looking to Make a Sale

Hiring a professional inspector before the pre-listing process will help the seller identify any repairs required and as well as avoid any unwanted surprises. By the time property price negotiation talks have been concluded, sellers have gone as far as they could and buyers as high as they could. Finding costly problems with the house structure or foundation at this stage can easily send the entire transaction down the drain.

In other words, fixing any issues now means that the seller has fewer things to worry about during the process. It is also an indicator to the inspector and buyer that the seller is indeed dedicated to taking care of his or her house. However, no house is perfect and an inspection will likely turn up a few problems. However, this does not mean that the property is a risky investment.

If larger repairs are required, additional negotiations will be necessary. Issues like roof replacement and cracked foundation can also require further negotiations. Some people may choose to have the problems repaired before the sale and a seller can counter by agreeing to undertake some of the repairs.

What Is Checked?

A qualified inspector will help put your mind at ease. Below are some of the places potential problems lurk, according to Popular Mechanics:

• Water corrosion and stains to wall backings on baths and showers

• Wet areas in the cabinets

• Large cracks on walls

• Mold in bedrooms and bathrooms

• Internal wall plaster with cracks

• Rusted roof gutters

Purchasing a property is one of the largest investments people have to make. It offers more than just shelter and a space to live in. This is where families gather for special occasions and children grow up to become adults. For many, a new residence is where they make memories that last them forever. It is critical that you ensure that you are buying and settling into a place that is in good structural and mechanical condition, and that all the parties involved in the transaction are fair to each other.