Have you considered doing a home inspection? Home inspection isn’t just for home buyers and sellers, it can also be an invaluable resource for those who already own their own homes. Most people don’t realize that they should have a home inspection every five to ten years as part of an overall maintenance plan. But a home inspector can help you more than you think.

For most of us, the two things we will spend the most money on in our lives are our cars and our homes. You would never drive the same car for 10 years or more without taking it to a mechanic for adjustment, right? Of course you wouldn’t. Car maintenance should be performed to ensure that your vehicle continues to function as long and in the best possible way. She also cleans, washes and vacuums it from time to time to maintain resale value if it weren’t for its own clean feel. Why then should your home be any different?

A regular maintenance plan for your home should include a home inspection every few years. A home inspector can advise you on what repairs need to be done before they become a major expense and discuss any safety issues you may not be aware of.

Home inspectors review all aspects of your home and provide you with an unbiased report of their findings. The report will show you anything that may be wrong with your home now, what may be preparing to need repairs, and advise you on how to make the repairs. For example, a home inspector might notice a small stain on a wall and trace it back to a water leak. The leak may have been small enough that it only cost a couple of bucks to fix by now, but it could have done a lot of damage before he found it on his own.

Home inspections can also alert you to any safety issues you may not be aware of. Worn gas lines and frayed electrical wiring often go unnoticed until a fire breaks out or people get sick and die. A home inspector checks electrical wires as well as gas and plumbing as part of a routine check and alerts you when a problem is found.

Hiring the services of a professional home inspector should be part of your regular home maintenance. A thorough and unbiased home inspection can pinpoint repair and safety issues before they become a serious problem and help you preserve your home’s value and peace of mind.