Most Daytona Beach Homes Must Be Inspected Before Buying

When buying a home in Daytona Beach. Ordering a home inspection can save you from making an expensive mistake, or, strengthen your negotiating position.

Why Have Your House Inspected

There are two main reasons to have a home inspected before buying:

1. To protect yourself from “hidden flaws”
2. To strengthen your negotiating position

Some homes are sold “as is” and this is a flag. Much of the lowest priced distressed Daytona Beach property is being sold as-is. The home may not have any major flaws, but, if you are buying “as is,” you need to know exactly what you are getting. If the home does not have the “as is” disclaimer, you still need to inspect, because if you don’t, you are buying the home “as is.” The difference is in what you will do with the information.

The contract should be written to include a home inspection contingency. The seller of an “as is” property may complain and gripe, but will agree in almost all cases. A standard home inspection is a visual examination of a house. The inspection is usually limited to the structure and major interior systems.

Home inspections are not intended to identify minor or cosmetic flaws that would be apparent to the buyer. Because of that, you should visually inspect the entire property inside and out. If you do this before the inspector starts, you can ask about what you seen that might be considered a major issue.

The inspector is trained to perform home inspections. During the inspection, inspectors will examine readily accessible exposed parts of the of the home’s structure, including:

• the roof
• the attic
• walls
• ceilings
• floors
• windows
• doors
• basement
• foundation
• heating/air conditioning systems
• interior plumbing
• electrical systems for potential problems.

You should expect to have the major equipment and systems listed with an estimate of age and remaining life based upon condition.

Choosing A Home Inspector for Daytona Beach Houses

If you are new to the area, finding a home inspector may be difficult, but the best way is to get the recommendation of people you trust. Even then, some additional due diligence is needed. Ask the inspector for a copy of what the final report will look like. Get a sample. This will give you an idea of how thorough the inspector has been in the past. Also, ask for certifications through industry associations and make sure the inspector is licenses and insured. I have inspectors that I trust and recommend to clients and use personally.

Daytona Beach Older Homes

Many of the homes in Daytona Beach were built 30, 40, or 50 years ago or more. That doesn’t mean that there’s anything wrong, but it does mean you need to be careful with older homes. Homes closer to the ocean will have additional wear and tear inflicted by salt air and sand. If the owner of these homes has not been diligent in performing proper maintenance, windows, doors, and seals may be worn and need replacement. If these items have been replaced, you need to make sure that the appropriate hardware and replacement items were used. If not, screws and fasteners that look great today will be rusted junk very shortly and need replacement. In Florida, be sure to look for water damage and reports of water damage.

Also, look for additions that may not be as rugged as the original structure.

What to Do With The Homes Inspection Report

The homes inspection report is not a guarantee. It’s a guide for you to determine the overall condition of the property. Be sure to read the disclaimers that the home inspector puts in their report. They are basically giving you their opinion of the visual condition of the property on the day observed. You can use the inspection report to change your offer to include repairs and reduction in the price for repairs. If you change the contract to include repairs, be sure to inspect for those repairs before closing. Remember, the price of the home is determined by the market and condition. If the price reflects market, but does not reflect condition, you should negotiate to get a fair price for both.

Disclosures

Disclosures are required in Florida for anything that materially affects the value of the property - land, structure, and known issues such as assessments, a new road coming in, etc. Be sure to get a copy of the disclosures for the property before making an offer.

Personally, I include a home inspection contingency for every contract/offer I make. Daytona Beach Homes, with the Florida weather and humidity, need to be inspected as part of the buying process - even if the home is marketed as-is.

Home Warranty

If the inspection is acceptable, and you go through with the purchase, I recommend that all home buyers purchase a home warranty for their new purchase. Home warranties vary in coverage and cost, put provide cheap insurance against catastrophic major item failure. We had a furnace fail in a home in New Jersey, and the $1,200 repair cost us only the $50 deductible. The warranty for the year was $350. Most years, we use it once or twice, but if an A/C or other major item fails, you’re covered.

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