Income property is a long-term strategy for building wealth, as Jason Hartman always says. And while it may be tempting to jump right in and snap up a promising property it pays to start o on the right foot by exercising some caution and getting the property professionally inspected.
If you’re buying a property for investment that will depend on a steady stream of income from tenants, you’ll want that property to be in as good a shape as possible to begin with. Although expenditures for repairs and upgrades are tax-deductible and a part of doing business as a landlord/investor, a thorough inspection can spot money traps from the outset.
That’s especially true when buying properties at auction, where many homes are up for sale at ridiculously low prices, usually as-is. It’s the buyer’s responsibility to have the property checked out and in those cases there’s often a grace period of up to sixty days to get an inspection and cancel the deal if things don’t turn out as advertised.
But regardless of whether the property is a smoking deal on auction or purchased some other way, real estate professionals strongly recommend an inspection performed by the pros. Although that can cost up to several hundred dollars, a professional inspection offers legal protections beyond what even the most thorough look-over by the buyer can provide. Inspectors know what to look for and their findings can be used to negotiate prices – or offer some protection against liabilities.
Home inspectors are professionals with their own organization, the American Society of Home Inspectors, and members must meet strict criteria, such as having performed a minimum number of full home inspections and evidence of training and continuing education.
These home inspectors don’t fill the same function as a municipal property inspector. It’s the job of the city housing authority to determine if a property meets the municipal standards for safety – not to provide the kind of thorough examination that catches all the potential problems. City inspectors simply sign off on relevant permits and warn owners of issues that need to be addressed.
Professional property inspectors examine the whole property, but they typically focus on a few key areas that affect the safety and functionality of the property: the roof, foundations, heating and cooling systems, wiring and plumbing. They may spot termite damage, leaks and cracks under foundations that an untrained eye won’t catch.
A professional home inspection may seem like an unnecessary expense in an already costly process. But for investors hoping to reap long-term returns, a through inspection may be one of the best initial investments to make. (Top image:Flickr/cooperweb)
Jason Hartman is the complete solution for real estate investing. Read more from our archives:
A New Mortgage Picture for 2014
Home Loans From the Family Bank
The Jason Hartman Team
