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Get the Most out of Your Home Inspection

Created by Janice Papolos
Get the most out of your home inspection.

Before you buy a house, it's absolutely necessary to have it inspected. The home inspector you hire will look for problems that could be costly down the road—problems that you might not notice. Janice Papolos, author of The Virgin Homeowner, shares tips for getting the most out of your home inspection.



When You Get Your Home Inspected
  • Make sure to hire an inspector who understands your feelings as a homeowner.
  • Divide a loose-leaf binder into sections and label each one with the structural elements of the house. This way, you can take notes throughout the inspection, and keep the information organized afterwards.
    Make a list of questions before the inspection. They should all be answered during the inspection, and you can keep the answers in the proper sections of your binder.
  • Buy some brightly colored tags with strings. Ask the home inspector to use them to tag the main water valve, the hot water valve and the outside water valve.
  • Don't bring anyone along with you. You are there to concentrate on the condition of your house.