We know that new home buyers have a million things to think about and are under all kinds of stress, due in large part to the seemingly endless expenses that crop up during the home buying process. Given this, many home owners may decide to forgo a plumbing inspection, if they even think of doing it at all. However, any realtor worth their salt will insist that you have a plumbing inspection done.
Have you heard the saying “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure?” Well, nowhere is this more true than with regard to your new home’s plumbing system. Think about it, how much do you imagine it would cost to replace even a small portion of your plumbing, or, heaven forbid, replace the whole system? Hard to pinpoint that right? Well, a plumbing inspection is relatively inexpensive, sometimes as little as $50 to $150 for a simple inspection. This upfront and predictable cost is perhaps the best investment you will ever make in your home, relative to the potential future expense.
A few things you should do is to make sure the water meter and shut off valve to the home’s water supply are working properly. Next, make sure your inspector checks for any lead pipes, especially in old homes. Obviously, this is the chance to check for any leaks that will not only be wasting water, but also will be damaging to the foundation of your home. You’ll also be able to check to see that the pipes are big enough and in good enough shape to provide adequate water pressure, because no one wants to take a shower that is just a trickle.
A few more things to address are making sure that the water heater is in good working order, and for those of you in colder areas, be sure that the pipes are properly insulated in order to prevent freezing, otherwise you won’t be taking that shower at all!
Don’t be afraid to get down and dirty and accompany your inspector as he checks your home. You’ll be able to see first hand what’s going on, and be able to better decide for yourself if any issues are problematic enough to warrant calling off the sale. Or, in the alternative, if you are a bit of a handy person, you may be able to fix the problems yourself, but use the inspection results to get a lower price on your new home.
Are you a new home owner looking to have your property inspected? Call Mark Johnson at (318) 257-6167 today for top-notch services in the Ruston area.
