How to avoid buying the wrong home

Buying a lemon isn't only a concern for automobiles. Home shoppers have to be wary about any unforeseen problems before closing on a property, and even though there are a lot of steps that go into the process, sometimes even the most diligent people end up with housing horror stories. 

Before anyone moves forward on a transaction, a home inspection should be completed. Doing this should increase the chances that any hidden hazards are quickly spotted, and happy buyers won't have their days ruined after moving in.

Be thorough before hand

Just because a property looks phenomenal doesn't mean it is. In fact, one of the biggest home buying mistakes is not doing the proper research ahead of time, according to Bankrate. Each family has a unique set of finances, and that should dictate what type of property is considered - including its condition. 

If this step is skipped, the new home might end up being a money pit thanks to costly repair bills. The smartest homeowners are aware of the expenses that ownership entails, the news source noted. A lot of responsibilities go into buying and maintaining a property, and not fully understanding every detail before committing is a good way for people to end up over their heads. Additionally, homes that are hard to resell might not be the best purchases. Homeowners who show a little foresight could end up in a better financial situation later in life, and it could also help prevent a financial misstep. 

A property inspection is a perfect way for buyers to put in some due diligence. Necessary steps such as this are sound methods to ensure a home is the right choice. 

There might be more than meets the eye

Hidden problems could be lurking even if a house appears to be perfect on the surface. For example, Pennsylvania homebuyers Justin and Kate Treher found what they thought was the ideal property, but several months after their purchase a number of issues started to appear, according to AOL Real Estate. 

The couple's sump pump ended up failing, resulting in a totally flooded basement. In addition, termite swarms in their sunroom were soon discovered, windows lacked caulking and insulation could be spotted from outside the home, the news source noted. The Trehers were unaware of these serious faults ahead of time, and the real estate disclaimer didn't mention any such issues.

An in-depth property inspection has the ability to figure out all of these hazards, so homebuyers aren't faced with major headaches like the Trehers were. One of the reasons why some people end up in unfortunate situations is because more people are concerned with looks rather than functionality, according to Kirk Juneau, a licensed home inspection professional and member of the American Society of Home Inspectors. 

"I think a lot of people - 80 to 85 percent of people - buy emotionally, and I get that," Juneau told AOL Real Estate. "Buying a house is a dream. I know it's hard, but homebuyers really need to separate their emotions from this transaction. Don't look at the home through rose-colored glasses; don't get too emotionally attached before the inspection. That's one of the most important things I can recommend."

With this service, buyers should be able to know more about a prospective property than if they skipped this step. A property inspection could make a lot of difference down the road, and people who are smart and thorough before closing on a new house might be able to dodge uncomfortable - and expensive - situations.