Ask Bob: Should I have a technical inspection of the house before I buy?

Buying or selling a home involves a lot of things, it also raises questions. In this column ‘Ask Bob’, real estate expert/broker Bob Bartikoski of RE/MAX Paradise Homes Bonaire answers a real estate question from a reader. This time:

Question: I’m buying a house on Bonaire, should I have a technical inspection of the house before I buy?

That’s a great question. We always advise our buyers to request a technical inspection of any property they are planning to buy, and to make a contingency of a technical inspection part of the purchase agreement. There are a number of qualified people who can perform the technical inspection for you. The inspection with check all parts of the house, and provide you a written report detailing the issues they find if any. If there are serious issues with the house the buyer can choose to cancel the purchase agreement, but that rarely happens.

The most common problems we see are:

• Sewer line issues: In older homes  you can have tree roots that grow into the sewer lines that run from the house to the septic tank or the public sewer. This problem can make your sinks or toilet drain slower than usual. This can usually be easily resolved by a plumber, although sometimes the pipes need to be dug up and replaced.
• Termites: A pest inspection can usually detect the presence of termites. This is most common in homes that have been vacant for a long period of time. This issue can normally be resolved by having the foundation treated for termites by a pest control company.
• Roof leaks: Roof leaks are a common issue on Bonaire. A good inspector will usually get on your roof to check or check using a drone. Most roof leaks can be repaired by a local roofing company once you can find the source of the leak. They can be caused by broken roof tiles, blocked or dirty gutters or poor roof drainage of you have a flat roof. 

Do you want to buy or sell a house in Bonaire, or do have a real estate question for Bob? email him at: [email protected]. Call for free from the US: 1-866-611-7362 or Bonaire: +599-717-7362. See all our listings here.