When you finally find the home you’ve been searching for, it’s easy to get swept up in the excitement. You’ve walked through it, pictured your stuff in all the rooms, maybe even imagined sipping your morning coffee on the porch. The last thing you want is to hit pause for more steps—or worse, miss out to someone else who skips the inspection altogether.
Here’s the thing—buying a home is one of the biggest financial moves you’ll ever make. And even if the place looks absolutely perfect, skipping the home inspection is a gamble that could end up costing you way more than just a little time.
Let’s Break It Down: What Is a Home Inspection?
A home inspection gives you a closer look at what’s really going on with the house—usually after your offer’s been accepted but before you officially close. Depending on where you live, what’s covered can vary a bit, but inspectors typically check out all the major stuff: the roof, foundation, plumbing, electrical, HVAC, and other key systems.
Why Getting a Home Inspection Totally Pays Off
Here’s the scoop on why it’s worth it—just a few of the biggest perks that come with getting an inspection.
Helps you steer clear of unexpected headaches. A house might look totally move-in ready at first glance, but there could be hidden issues you didn’t catch during the walkthrough. It’s way better to find out before closing, so you know what kind of repairs or updates might be coming your way.
Gives you some wiggle room to negotiate. If the inspection uncovers any issues, you might be able to go back to the seller and rework the deal a bit. That’s where your agent really comes in handy—they can help you ask the seller to fix things before closing or offer a credit so you can handle the repairs yourself.
Gives you some peace of mind. Buying a home can be an emotional rollercoaster—especially if you’ve been on the hunt for a while. An inspection helps ease some of that stress by giving you a clearer picture of what you’re getting into, so you can move forward feeling confident.
Spending a few hundred bucks on a home inspection now could save you thousands in surprise repairs down the road. Like the National Association of Realtors (NAR) puts it:
“Failure to obtain a home inspection could potentially cost you a great deal of money and hassles in the long run.”
Here’s Why You’ll Want to Keep That Inspection
According to the latest stats from NAR, almost 1 in 4 buyers are skipping the inspection contingency when they buy a home. With spring being the busy homebuying season and things already picking up, you might be thinking about doing the same. But as Realtor.com points out:
“ . . . if you're in a hot real estate market where homes are getting multiple offers, there might be a temptation to skip an inspection when you really want the house. However, waiving a home inspection comes with sizable risks.”
Skipping the inspection is a bit of a gamble, and it doesn’t always work out in your favor. The good news is, there are other ways to make your offer stand out to sellers, like being flexible on the closing date. Before you make an offer, chat with your agent about other strategies to grab a seller’s attention—without giving up your peace of mind.
Bottom Line
Even though skipping the inspection might seem like a way to make your offer stand out or speed things up, it’s a risky move. It’s not just about saving time or paperwork—it’s actually a smart step that helps protect your wallet, your investment, and your future.
If you could ask a home inspector just one question before buying, what would it be? Let me know, and I’ll make sure it’s the first thing we talk about.
