Are home inspections a waste of money and time?

I recently had a discussion with a buyer about home inspections and how he thought that they were a waste of money.  I could see how one might think that.  I mean, let’s face it, after the home inspectors look at the electrical, HVAC systems, plumbing, roof, and overall structure – what do home inspectors really do.  They run dish washers, open and close windows, turn on microwaves and ovens and exhaust fans, etc.  I mean, the agent or the buyer could do that and save money, right?

Now if you detect a hint of sarcasm in the previous paragraph, then you are right.  The right home inspector can save you from making a big mistake or missing something that the buyer or the agent may not have seen.  Moreover, the last time I checked, most buyers and definitely their agents are not qualified to evaluate the quality of the home.  Do yourself a favor.  Do the home inspection.  It is a small price to pay for piece of mind and may even save you from buying a money pit.

Oh, and that buyer I was referring to was glad that he had the home inspection because the inspector found that the front wall of the home was bowing a bit and required an evaluation by a structural engineer.