The purchase of a pool is typically the single most significant investment anyone makes in their lifetime. You must be sure you’re getting a solid return on your money. Closing on the house can be delayed if issues are not disclosed in advance. It is common practice to hire a professional for pool inspection to check the property and inform the buyer and seller of any issues they may have missed.
A pool inspector will thoroughly examine and then provide you with a report highlighting the pool’s status and the problems, if any. Pool defects might be used as bargaining chips throughout the closing process. It’s not uncommon for the buyer to want the seller to pay for the required upgrades. In transactions, the buyer foregoes the repairs for a lower purchase price. Regardless, it’s crucial to have a complete picture of a home’s history and current condition before committing to a purchase.
- A property with a swimming pool presents a fresh set of issues for an inspector to look for. Many different things can go wrong with a pool.
- A few of these are minor issues that can be easily resolved. Some may need a lot of time and money to fix.
- Specific problems may even compromise the safety of the pool and its users.
- Having complete information about the pool’s condition is crucial when negotiating the price and terms of a house acquisition.
- Pool inspections are similar to other necessary repairs because they might be a negotiation point at closing.
- The terms of the sale, and possibly the final sale price, will be impacted by the extent of the problems and the cost of repairs.
Can a pool be included in a pool inspection?
A qualified pool inspector has an eye for detail and knows the protocol. Their quality of inspection will vary based on their experience and expertise. Not all home inspectors check pools. Usually, this is because of worries about legal responsibility.
A homeowner can discover defects or damage overlooked during a pool inspection. The buyer may have to spend a lot of money fixing problems that were overlooked during the house inspection, which is problematic because the purchase was contingent on the inspector’s report. Costs tend to bring forth legal action.
Many home inspectors have errors and omissions insurance in case they make a mistake during an inspection and get sued. Similar to medical malpractice insurance, a house inspector would need errors and omissions coverage. It helps shield an inspector from legal responsibility if they make a mistake on the job.
Although a home inspector should always have errors and omissions insurance, that policy might not include coverage for checking the condition of a pool.
This is because of the unique characteristics of pool issues. A home inspector’s failure to catch issues with a pool can have disastrous financial and even fatal consequences. As a result of the significant risk of injury or damage to property, several insurance providers exclude swimming pools from their standard policies’ errors and omissions coverage.
Your inspector may not be willing to inspect and guarantee the state of a swimming pool if they are not adequately covered against liability.
Limited pool inspections are another method used by some home inspectors. By outlining in writing what is and is not included in the inspection, the home inspector can shield himself from legal action. The inspector will typically state that their review will be brief and cursory and that their primary goal will be to assess whether a more thorough review is required.
When it comes to swimming pools, an expert inspection is required.
A professional pool inspector should be hired if the house inspector does not inspect pools or if their inspection is limited. In other words, these folks have received extensive pool inspection training and know what to look for. They have the expertise to ensure that your pool is safe and functional and have the appropriate insurance to back it up. Hiring a professional pool inspector is best to thoroughly assess the pool, its components, and the surrounding region.
Conclusion
Hiring a pool inspector is recommended unless you already have a house inspector specializing in pools. Due to the high stakes involved (both financially and personally), professionals should handle pool issues. It’s not just the home inspector’s fault if they miss anything and it causes an accident. If someone gets hurt on your property, you can have to pay for their medical bills if the harm was caused by negligence. Negligence may exist if an inspection is not obtained. If you want to avoid injuries and legal trouble, hiring a specialist is best.
