Bad Home Inspection for Sellers: Common Causes and Reasonable Repairs
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The inspection can bring all kinds of potential issues to light. In this case, the prospective buyer may request that certain repairs be made before going through with the sale. This type of contingency is quite common, though in today's housing market, some buyers may go without it—especially if there's a bidding war. This can be good for sellers who are hoping for less hassle and a quicker closing. A home inspection is a critical part of the home buying and selling process.
Make sure the inspector has access to the electrical panel, furnace, and water heater. Home inspectors are not concerned with anything cosmetic in a home. For example, if a home inspector spends time analyzing your peeling wallpaper, they’re not concerned about the appearance but rather if it’s an indicator of moisture and, potentially, mold.
What to Expect During a Home Inspection
Now that you know what’s included, let’s look at the things that you should definitely not expect your home inspection to cover. A home inspection will look at whether windows and exterior doors open and latch properly, as well as whether there is any broken glass. A certain number of three-pronged outlets is mandatory in each room, though this guideline varies from city to city. The inspector will also check that outlets, fans, circuit breakers, and light fixtures are all working properly.
Regardless if you’re a first-time home buyer or a seasoned homeowner, a professional home inspection is typically a good practice. If the home inspection report showed only minor and expected problems, the home buying process should continue as planned. And it may be you’ve already negotiated over some known issues and they’ve been reflected in the price. As a home buyer, the home inspection is your last chance to uncover defects with the house — and potentially get the seller to pay for them — before sealing the deal.
Addressing serious issues
A thorough inspection will cover the foundation, the attic, the crawl space, any fences, random piles of wood and anything else on the property that looks like a potential termite gathering place. Usually, the 5-10 business days allowed in the contract includes both conducting the inspection and requesting any repairs in writing. In a buyers market, buyers sometimes have more time, but in a sellers market, they usually have to act quickly. As the inspector goes through the home, they will turn on the systems and check to make sure they're working correctly and don't have any major red flags.
Armed with that information, you can fix problems before the next buyer shows up, adjust the price to reflect necessary repairs, or simply have a ready response when the issue comes up again. An inspector might have a thought or two on child-safety issues found in the home, but again, that depends on the inspector’s experience and competencies. And a home inspector doesn’t necessarily determine whether your home is compliant with local building codes. Closing costs, you generally pay the home inspector at the time of the service. You can also ask for samples of prior reports and note whether they’re simply completed checklists or extensive reviews. That way you’ll know whether you’re paying for a quick report or detailed information.
How often should I schedule a termite inspection?
Although termites are typically challenging to see since they are very tiny, you could spot one in your home. Since every termite species looks different, enjoys different environments and poses different risks to your home, it is essential to know what other signs to look for as soon as you see one. Termites severely damage your wood’s structural joints, so if you knock on wood and it sounds hollow, that is a tell-tale sign of an infestation. Another way to determine wood damage is to use a screwdriver to expose any tunnels the termites created.
After these repairs have been completed you may want to do your own walk-through inspection to make sure all the items on your list got fixed. Some certified home inspectors offer additional services such as radon testing and will recommend asbestos testing for homes that are suspected to be at risk. If serious problems arise, talk to your home inspector and real estate agent about your best ways forward. A home inspection is the buyer’s last opportunity to discover problems with the house before purchasing.
What are some common problems found during a home inspection?
He’ll point out things to you that aren’t as they should be, or may need repairs. If you’re buying your first home, it can be helpful to see someone else’s report before you see your own. Every house has problems, usually lots of them, though most generally aren’t that big of a deal.
Their job is simply to inspect and report their findings, and then let the buyer come to their own conclusion. In some cases, it may make sense to consult with your agent and weigh the pros and cons of the costs of repairs versus letting the buyer walk and re-listing your home as-is. The home inspection process is an important step whether you're selling or buying a home. Your credit is another key factor when house hunting—the better your score, the more likely you'll be to get approved for a mortgage with a favorable interest rate. Experian can be your go-to resource for your free credit score to see where you stand. If you're financing your next home, your lender will likely require a home inspection once the property is under contract.
Be sure you are comfortable with your choice of home inspector. They are extremely important and can help you detect and avoid major pitfalls in the home buying process. “In Michigan, if a home is on a well or a septic system, the seller is required to pay for and provide an inspection of those,” explains Justin. Termites and other pests can be a huge problem for a home’s foundation.
You don’t want something that is going to cause you major problems in the years to come, especially if the home is older. In order to provide comfort for your family, it is recommended that you include a home inspection as a condition for any house you plan on purchasing. Roughly 95% of home buyers hire a professional to perform a home inspection before closing. Just because a home is new, doesn’t mean everything is perfect, which is why we have answers to your home inspection questions below. A home inspection is an objective, professional, third-party assessment of specific aspects of a house. Inspections are about ensuring the safety of the home, and typically take a few hours to complete for an average-sized home.
In fact, experts recommend that buyers choose their own inspector, someone without ties to either the seller or the seller’s Realtor. Clearly, the inspector isn’t going to tear your home apart to inspect piping and wiring. But the more exterior and interior parts of the home an inspector can access, the more complete the final report will be. You should schedule a termite inspection annually to avoid a termite problem before you have one.
Your personal credit report includes appropriate contact information including a website address, toll-free telephone number and mailing address. The last thing you want after moving in is to discover issues that flew under the radar during the inspection. The International Association of Certified Home Inspectors is a great resource for finding a qualified inspector in your area. You can also ask around among friends, family and neighbors to see if they can recommend anyone.
If you’re a homebuyer, a home inspection will help protect you against buying a house with significant defects, like a bad foundation or leaky roof. As a home seller, a pre-listing home inspection will help you see all the repairs you’ll need to make before you put it on the market, which helps with a smoother closing and faster sale. A certified home inspector will take a close look at all functional aspects of the house to determine its safety as a dwelling. The home inspector will test the operational status of all major systems – plumbing, electrical, heating, and cooling – and check the roof, the foundation, and the home’s exterior.
Ask the inspector if the problem is dire, or if you could fix it later on while living in the home. The inspector should never try to make you scared or worried. They should tell you honestly how long they think something will last and when you should have it repaired.
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