Ottawa is the capital city of Canada and is usually the starting point of people who are migrating to live in Canada. Ottawa's attraction to newcomers is strong because of the city's ability to offer many work opportunities, high quality of life, and low cost of living compared to the more densely-populated Canadian cities such as Toronto and Vancouver.
The attraction to live in Ottawa has created an increase of 100,000 in population in just three years from 2015 to 2018. This population increase gave rise to the demand for housing, which led to a jump in the prices of Homes for Sale in Ottawa. Nevertheless, the prices of Ottawa homes are still lower than the national average making the housing market in the capital city a booming industry where homebuyers can make a sound investment.
If you wish to purchase a new home in Ottawa as an investment, you may easily get caught up in the excitement that comes with home buying, especially when you see a beautiful property. But always remember that looks can be deceiving. Previous homeowners who want to get a high price for their property may have hidden flaws that may not be noticeable to the untrained eyes of first-time homebuyers. This is why it is crucial to hire a home inspector to help you scrutinize Homes for Sale in Ottawa before deciding which one to purchase.
How Can a Home Inspector Help?
The primary objective of a house inspector is to thoroughly examine the internal and external physical aspects of a house to check if the property was built according to standards and if it was well maintained. House inspectors can also determine what parts of the house will need to be repaired soon. The detailed findings of a home inspection will allow you to assess the home's actual value based on its current state and the additional costs that you would expect to shoulder soon for repairs. With this in hand, you can negotiate a fair price with the sellers.
What Do House Inspectors Look For?
Since you are on the decision process of purchasing the house, a house inspector can only perform an extensive visual check on the property without being intrusive. This means that the inspector cannot breakdown drywalls to verify suspicions of rot or molds in the interior walls. What a house inspector can do is to give you an assessment of what has been seen and can only voice out suspicions on flaws or defects of the property.
Who Should Pay for Home Inspection?
Some homeowners may have already hired their home inspectors to give Homes for Sale in Ottawa a once over to help them accurately price their homes. If this is the case, you can either trust the sellers and ask to verify the results with their home inspector. On the other hand, do not be afraid to offend the sellers by asking to do your inspection. You can ask to hire a new inspector to give you an unbiased appraisal of the house you are planning to buy. Remember that purchasing a home involves hundreds of thousands of hard-earned money, so in this case, being sure is better than being polite.
When you are planning to purchase a home, even if it is newly built, always give the sellers an Offer to Purchase with a contingency that a thorough home inspection is done first.