How Home Inspections Can Affect The Value Of The Home You Want To Buy
A home inspection will alert you to any problems with your prospective new home and potentially save you money. However, Howells Legal states that only 20% of homebuyers get an inspection before buying a property. As a home inspection can impact the overall valuation of a property, you must arrange one before parting with any cash or signing any documents. Let’s discover the different types of inspections you can have and how they can affect the value of a home.
In-person inspection
An in-person inspection is the most detailed inspection you can have. There are 3 types you can choose from; Condition Report, Homebuyers Report, and Building Survey. A Homebuyers Report and Building Survey are the inspections most likely to find a problem. The condition of various aspects of the property inside and out will be highlighted and risks and defects will be noted, such as subsidence issues, rising damp, and similar. Depending on the extent of the mould and damp, the value of the property could decrease by as much as 53%. A full building survey is in-depth and will detail the cost of all repairs needed on the property. This can help you negotiate a new price with the seller.
Drive-by inspection
You’ll be surprised at how much a drive-by inspection can pick up. Inspectors will often use binoculars to get a good look at the exterior of the property, as well as the roof. The exterior can give away a lot as cracking is a major sign of subsidence. If subsidence is found, the value of the property could drop by 20%. Signs that the roof is in bad condition include missing tiles, damaged tiles, and broken gutters. After discovering this, you might want to request a more in-depth look at the property’s roof. A drone roof inspection can identify the full extent of the damage by assessing both the inside and outside of the roof, without damaging the surface thanks to non-destructive testing. This then allows a time frame for repairs to be worked out and for an estimated cost for repairs to be given. Roof repairs are considered a major turn-off when buying a home, so the value of the property could go down by thousands. The average cost of a new roof in the UK is £5,500, so bear this in mind when discussing the price with the seller.
Desktop inspection
A desktop inspection is usually done via live streaming. The inspector works alongside the current occupant of the property to inspect the vehicle from the comfort of their office. This is a cheaper type of inspection which has grown in popularity since the pandemic. The inspector is also able to fill in the report at the same time as assessing the property. Maintenance issues are most likely to be picked up in this type of inspection. The Daily Express reports that these types of problems can devalue a property by around 10%.
Property inspections are a crucial part of the house-buying process and you shouldn’t ever consider skipping them. There are several different types to choose from and all of them can lower the value of the home you intend to buy.
You May Also Enjoy
More sellers looking to enter the property market
Non-standard home insurance cover and how to get it right
Should you change mortgage lender?
Property chains cost movers £2,000 in unexpected costs
Rental demand remains resilient in 2026
