To Inspect Or Not To Inspect Your New Home, That Is The Question.
When Gerardo and I first came to live and run our real estate business in Costa Rica, there was a lot to learn. My previous 10 years of training and experience in residential real estate came in handy but there were many practices selling real estate in Costa Rica that were not common back in Florida.
One of the biggest differences was in respect to home inspections. At the time, it was not common to have a home inspection in Costa Rica and if you wanted one, finding a qualified home inspector was like finding the proverbial needle in a haystack.
In the beginning, Gerardo and I would suggest that buyers find a local contractor or engineer that could do a good once over of all the major areas of concern such as the structural integrity of the home, the roof as well as the electrical and plumbing systems.
When I sold my personal home in Atenas, the buyers had a home inspection and hired a ‘professional’ home inspector. The home inspector came with an assistant to help with the task at hand. Both seemed to know what they were doing, checking things off the list and taking notes as they went along. Then the reality began to surface when the inspector asked me what a GFI plug was? Then he asked me what amperage service the house had because he could not determine by looking into the breaker box.
A few other questions came up, I answered and the inspector did not even go verify and see if I was giving him the correct information. Needless to say, I was horrified, not only for myself because I could potentially loose a sale over an incompetent home inspector, but for the buyers who could potentially have problems that I was not aware of.
Fast forward 10 years and things have changed considerably. Buyers have become more educated when buying a home in Costa Rica and are thankfully doing their due diligence. We have also had the good fortune to have attracted a few quality home inspectors that have filled a much needed void in providing our clients with a much needed service.
If you would have a home inspection back home, then you will most definitely want to have one in Costa Rica. There are several reasons you will want to have a home inspection on your new purchase, but below I have outlined what I consider to be the most important aspects of your home inspection in Costa Rica.
Determine if there are structural issues.
A home inspector will examine the roof, the foundation and other major structural areas of your prospective home, to be sure that everything is in satisfactory condition. If serious problems are found, you can negotiate with the seller to either do the required repairs or give you the money to do the repairs yourself. You can also walk away from the sale without penalty. If you find out about these problems after closing is complete, you will have no recourse but to pay for the repairs yourself.
Major system problems.
Not only will the inspector check all major structural areas, the inspector will also check out the major systems in the home, including plumbing, septic or sewer, electrical as well as the heating and air. If repairs are needed to these systems, costs can be high. It’s better to to find out in the beginning if there are problems before you sign the final paperwork.
Saving money.
Home inspections are not free and generally cost between $275 to $525, depending on size and age of the home. However, spending a few hundred dollars before you purchase the home could end up saving you thousands of dollars in the long run. Replacing a roof could cost 10 time of what you would spend on having a home inspection.
Negotiate.
One of the advantages of having a home inspection performed before you buy a property is negotiating power. If the home you want to purchase has some issues but you still love it and are willing to make things right yourself, then you will want to renegotiate the purchase price to help offset the cost of repairs. It is also important to include language into the purchase agreement that allows you to back out of an agreement if the inspection turns up major issues.
Peace of mind.
At the end of the day, the most important reason to have a home inspection before you buy is to really know what you’re getting into. Research your potential home like you would any other major purchase. When you lay your head down at night you want to have sweet dreams of your new life in paradise, not nightmares about your house falling down around you.
If you are looking for a tried and true professional home inspector in Costa Rica, we highly recommend Thomas Rosenberger. We have worked with Tom on many occasions and can honestly say you get your get what you pay for. Tom works with honesty and integrity, giving you, the buyer piece of mind in knowing that your new purchase is a sound investment.
Thomas Rosenberger -506-8364-1989 Or you could email Tom here.
To Inspect Or Not To Inspect Your New Home, That Is The Question.
Article/Property ID Number 4878
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Andrew Makarik
to@welovecostarica.comAndrew Makarik is the main editor of WeLoveCostaRica, a fan of this sunny country. He is also a loving husband and a has a lovely daughter. By being a devoted family man and the biggest Costa Rica fan, he wants to make more people feel at home there. WeLoveCostaRica unites people and helps them find new home or a new travel destination. This website is a friendly community where everyone can find not only information, but also new friends and travel pals. Andrew is also passionate about IT and programming, so he himself maintains a friendly atmosphere in this cozy environment of WeLoveCostaRica.com.
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