Why should you do a Home Inspection?

• Identify potential defects: Discover hidden issues that could lead to costly repairs.  Specifically major structural & mechanical items like roof, foundation, HVAC, water heaters, plumbing, major electrical.
• Negotiate a lower price: Use inspection results to negotiate seller concessions, reduced price or request repairs.
• Avoid post-closing surprises: Prevent unexpected problems from arising after the sale.

What to Expect During the Inspection

• Inspection process: The Inspector will take several hours to inspect the property, and the buyer will come at the end to walkthrough the home and inspection.
• Areas inspected: Areas that are assessable.
• Asking questions: Ask the inspector all of the questions to learn as much about your house as you can think of.  We don’t expect our pre-owned home to be perfect, but it’s good to know as much as you can about what you are purchasing.

How to interpret the Inspection Report?

• Key terms: Familiarize yourself with common inspection terms and definitions.
• Interpret findings: Understand the significance of different inspection findings.
• Asking questions: Discuss any concerns or questions with the inspector.

Using the Inspection Report to Negotiate

• Negotiate a lower price: Use the inspection report to negotiate a lower purchase price.
• Request repairs: Ask the seller to address specific issues identified in the inspection.
• If New Construction – forward Inspection report to the GC.  This will be their “To-Do List”
• Request credits: Negotiate credits toward closing costs or repairs.

Additional Considerations

• Home warranties: Consider purchasing a home warranty to cover potential repair costs.
• Seller’s disclosures: Review the seller’s disclosures for any known issues.
• Environmental hazards: Be aware of potential environmental hazards and ask about relevant inspections.