Buying a Home

Don't Skip the Inspection

Homebuyers should never skirt the property inspection, which is crucial in finding warning signs for the presence of asbestos, radon, lead paint, mold, poor air quality, and structural flaws, among other potential problems.

Though no house is perfect, most buyers hope to concentrate the average $6,000 spent in the first six months of homeownership on furnishings and accessories; not a new roof or furnace.

Buyers are urged to hire reputable home inspectors, checking their experience, standards, and membership in either the American Society of Home Inspectors or the National Association of Home Inspectors. The chosen professional will give buyers a list of items the inspection will cover, but it is only a "visual observation."

Meanwhile, many states require sellers to provide buyers with a disclosure form outlining all known problems.

But buyers should still hire their own termite inspector; consider having mold spores tested; and pay attention to environmental concerns, such as underground fuel-storage tanks, asbestos, water quality, and lead paint. Many buyers are unaware of the dangers and costs of ridding a home of these problems, having overlooked these issues while concentrating on safety, a good neighborhood, price and resale potential.

"Dealing With Red-Flag Defects," Philadelphia Inquirer (10/13/02) P. K1; Heavens, Alan J.