At this point, everyone knows what a home inspector in Dahlonega, Georgia, does and how they help during a home buying process. However, many don’t often understand that the usefulness of a home inspection is not limited to individual homes. They are very much necessary when buying an apartment or condominium. It can help you make a worthy real-estate investment.
Not everybody gets a condo inspection
In spite of the advantages, home inspections for condos bring, not everyone chooses to get them. For the most part, buyers believe the condominium corporation will take care of the expenses. Therefore, they simply rely on the status certificate that describes the major issues and the costs borne by the corporation.
If you are choosing this step, make sure to have a lawyer accompany you as you go through the certificate to know if the condo is worth the price you pay and the charges the corporation is liable to pay.
You may not even need an inspection
As mentioned before, condos often come with a status certificate that details the defects. Legally, these issues need to be taken care of by the condo corporation whether they have the funds for the same or not. Therefore, there are chances you may not need a condo inspection, especially if you bring your own appliances. But, once again, make sure to have a lawyer present during the entire process.
Condo inspections aren’t comprehensive
An interesting thing to note regarding a condo, as would be obvious in the certificate, is that major systems of the property are often linked to other units. Therefore, they are common to all and become shared expenses. As such, condo inspections don’t cover the electricals, plumbing, roofing, etc., unlike regular inspections.
Furthermore, the status certificate details any maintenance or repair work done in the past or needed to be done, which buyers need to get reviewed by the lawyer once.
You may still want to consider an inspection
Despite the non-comprehensive nature of the condo inspection, you may still want to keep the option of getting it open. Some condos may have the furnace and heating units under individual ownership, meaning the resident of the condo will bear the expenses of repair and maintenance. In such situations, a condo inspection can reduce the risk of having to shell out money soon after moving in.
Conclusion
Condos are more convenient than regular houses, and that’s why many people prefer them these days. However, like homes, condominiums also need inspection during the buying process to reduce the risk, especially when one of the major systems is under individual ownership. When choosing to rely solely on the status certificate, make sure you have a lawyer present to guide you.
