5 Reasons to Get a Home Inspection Even if You Don't Plan to Sell

You jumped through many hoops when you bought your home. Among other things, you found the right house, secured a loan and made an offer. Hopefully, you didn’t forget to have the home checked by a professional home inspector.

But, over time, you notice that your once-pristine-home is starting to age. How do you know there isn’t a serious problem lurking beneath the surface?

Professional inspectors say a home inspection is the perfect way to examine the health of your current casa, regardless whether you ever plan to sell it.

1. Potential savings. John Cranor, owner of highly rated Cranor Inspection Services in Glen Allen, Va., says home inspectors can uncover potentially expensive problems. If not caught early or ignored, a repair that might cost $100 can turn into a problem that costs thousands to fix. Cranor says he normally charges $300 to $400 for his services, depending on the age and size of the home. “A home inspection is always money wisely spent,” he says.

2. Objective opinions. According to Steve McNamee, owner of highly rated Homecheck Inspection Services in St. Peters, Mo., a home inspector is not out to sell you anything and there are no ulterior motives. McNamee says his goal is to give an honest evaluation of the home. “I tell my clients that I show them what I’d show my daughter if she was having her home inspected,” he says. You’ll still want to make sure there are no conflicts of interest between the inspector you hire and any contractor or Realtor that may end up working on your home.

3. Selling suggestions. Cranor says having your home examined before you decide to sell it can be a big benefit. He says it gives you a “to-do list” and it will hopefully catch issues while they’re still minor. Inspecting the home before you put it on the market means fewer surprises and expenses.

4. Radon detection. If your initial home inspection didn’t include a radon test, McNamee recommends you get one now. He strongly suggests every home be tested at least once. Radon is a natural, odorless, colorless gas that enters homes through foundation cracks and can cause serious respiratory problems. McNamee performs a radon test in every inspection. He says the test takes about two days, and he includes the results in his final report. For homes with high radon levels, McNamee recommends installing a radon mitigation system, which uses exhaust fans to suck the gas up and out of the home.

5. Mold mitigation. If your home was mold free when you purchased it, that may not still be the case. Mold breeds in moist areas, so it’s important to control and monitor moisture in your home. Cranor says mold is most likely to be found in basements, crawl spaces, attics and anywhere there is plumbing. He suggest monthly mold checks by the homeowner and annual checks by a professional inspector. The EPA recommends hiring a mold remediation service to remove any mold patches larger than 10 square feet. Some states require mold remediation companies to be licensed. Use the Angie’s List State License Check tool to determine if a license is required in your town.