For Buyers

4 Reasons to Never Buy a House Without an Inspection

June 2, 2021

People across the country and in Seattle are ready to buy now. They are taking advantage of all-time low mortgage rates (as real estate agent insights are showing) and a desire to upgrade their homes for more amenities. If you are one of these people who are ready to buy now, one factor to keep in mind is that you might be competing with other buyers to land the home of your dreams. It might be tempting to buy a house without an inspection to get your top home pick before anyone else does, however, there are a lot of reasons why that is not advisable. Here are some reasons why you should never buy a house in Seattle without an inspection.

The price may not be right

If you are buying a home for cash, or are trying to get ahead of other home buyers, skipping the inspection might be on your mind. By skipping the home inspection, you can get a home for a lower price, to make up for the increased risk of buying a home as-is, but this price may be more than you bargained for. If repairs come up later, you will have to foot the bill for them, and this could lead to unwanted costs down the line. Serious repairs like a cracked foundation, or moisture or mold issues might not be obvious until they become a health issue or lead to serious problems.

Insurance woes

Even if you skip the inspection when you buy your home, you will likely still need an inspection to get homeowner’s insurance. Some companies won’t insure your home if certain damage is present. This means that you’re better off getting the inspection ahead of time. A delayed inspection might also prevent you from moving into your house sooner if you find that repairs need to be made.

Safety first

Some issues that might come up in an inspection, like mold, can not only cost you money down the line, they could also be hazardous for your health. Having an inspection done can give you peace of mind that your family will be safe, and also that you won’t have to spend money on those repairs in the future.

Keep it legal

While that extra office in the backyard, or home gym, might seem like a great added amenity, an important part of assessing your next home is knowing whether or not that addition was created to code and with the proper permits. A home inspection can reveal those details, and this is key because you can potentially avoid having to make fixes to bring everything up to code.

It might be tempting to avoid the home inspection to get ahead of other buyers. But, you might find that your dream home is not so dreamy if problems come up that are expensive to fix. It’s possible to find that perfect Seattle home, and get an inspection, with a little patience and help from a professional real estate agent.