Home Inspections

Although it is required that the seller disclose any known defects to buyers, you should always protect yourself. There is an inspection clause within the sales agreement that state that you have the right to hire a qualified person to inspect the home, that you may terminate the agreement within a specified period of time if the inspection report is not satisfactory.

From your inspector, you should expect a thorough inspection, a written report within one-two days, and a willingness of the inspector to explain those items which are not fully understood.  If possible, you should plan on attending the inspection towards the last 30 minutes so that the inspector can walk you through and directly point out to you his findings. Depending on the size of the property, a normal home inspection cost runs between $350-$600.

An inspection is not intended to be a warranty of a property’s condition. It covers those areas which are readily accessible or visible to the inspector, so any latent defects that are not easily apparent will not be reported. It is especially important for a buyer to pay close attention to those items which can be costly to repaired, such as the roof, furnace, air conditioning, foundation & structural elements, electrical systems, plumbing system, and any dry rot or pest infestation. Additional inspections can be requested as well. You have the right to do additional inspections within an agreed upon time frame. The seller is under no obligation to make any repairs so minor problems which can easily be repaired, or cosmetic problems should take a back seat in the negotiation.