Home Inspections

Buying or selling a house is one of the more stressful life events. Once an offer is accepted, the clock starts ticking toward closing day, and you have to jump through a lot of hoops before getting there. Whether you are the buyer or the seller, you can run into setbacks that threaten to kill the deal at any point in the transaction. Read on: What to Know About the Home Inspection. Ignoring a major problem won’t make it go away. Sooner or later, someone is going to have to pay to fix the problems before damage to the entire house becomes not just more expensive but more extensive. Here are some things to look out for.

A home inspector does not pass or fail a house, but rather describe its physical condition and indicate what components and systems may need major repair or replacement. There is no such thing as a perfect house. Even if you buy a new construction home; in fact, especially with a new construction home, you can find problems. See: Should Sellers Pay for a Prelisting Home Inspection?Buyers who are contemplating purchasing even a brand new home should not shy away from independently having a home inspection done by a qualified, impartial inspector and not just rely on the builder’s word.

What problems are considered worse than foundation issues?

Anything that’s not working, not right, not up to code will be noticed. When it comes to major issues that should concern the home buyer or owner, inspectors look at the issues that would affect the persons to be occupying the house, rather than the house itself, such as unprotected pools, which are a drowning hazard for small children.

Not every issue uncovered during an inspection is that serious. If you’re the seller, how much is the problem going to cost you to fix, or how much will you have to concede to the buyer to make the repairs? See: Why You Should Be There During a Home Inspection. If you’re the buyer, what should you ask from the seller, or should you just walk away? There are some issues that are not necessarily ‘deal breakers,’ such as broken, cracked, or loose concrete roof tiles, AC not working properly, and dirty HVAC filters.

When it comes time to decide what to do about a negative inspection report, the home inspector probably is not going to tell you what to do. Regardless of what he uncovers during an inspection, the home inspector is simply a “data collector” and presents the facts. In the final analysis, it depends on how comfortable and knowledgeable you are about the type and extent of repairs needed and whether you can shoulder the additional expense.