When you're interested in buying a home in a rural area, the buying process can often present some unique challenges compared to shopping in a suburban setting. This doesn't mean that you should shy away from a home in the country, but it does mean that you should hire a home inspector who is familiar with the challenges of rural homes. The home inspection must be very thorough — whether the inspector does all the work himself or herself or hires a specialist to inspect a specific area, you need to be sure that these areas are addressed to your satisfaction before you move forward with submitting an offer on the house.

Septic Inspection

Many rural homes are connected to a septic tank rather than a municipal sewer, which means that the homeowner is responsible for any issues related to the disposal of waste. As such, you want to be confident that the home you're considering has a septic tank that is in proper working order; having to replace this element is extremely costly and inconvenient. In many cases, your home inspector will hire a septic inspector who can visit the home and assess the condition of this tank, as well as the associated elements, such as the weeping tile.

Well Inspection

A rural home that has a well for its water supply needs to have this element carefully inspected. By obtaining paperwork on the installation of the well, as well as conducting a physical inspection, your home inspector — or a well specialist hired by the inspector — will be able to give you the thumbs up or thumbs down about the well. A well that runs dry is more than an inconvenience for your home's water supply. In many cases, a dry well will need to be replaced entirely, which is a price tag that you won't want to pay upon moving into the home.

Termite Inspection

Many rural homes can be susceptible to pests that aren't always as prevalent in the city. One example is termites, which might be on the property you're looking at if it has lots of dead trees or stacked firewood. In this scenario, you'll want to be sure that your home inspector conducts a thorough investigation, either alone or with an expert, for signs of termites in the home. Termites can easily eat through key wooden elements in the home, leaving it in need of extensive and costly repairs. A thorough home inspection will ideally indicate whether termites are present or not.

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