Working with Your Home Inspector
By Neil Ray
If you are interested in purchasing a home, you should call in a home inspector after you have signed your purchase agreement or contract. But, be sure the contract includes a clause stating that you are not obligated to purchase the home if you are unhappy with the results of the home inspection. In addition, your clause should list any obligations of the seller and the buyer following the inspection.
In most cases, the home inspector should be able to inspect the home within a few days after you call. Although a home cannot "fail" inspection, it will provide you with a list of the problem areas of the home. It will also name the necessary repairs or items that need replacement. In addition, a home inspection is not the same as an appraisal, so don’t expect to be provided with a fair market value of the home following the inspection. Rather, you will simply get an evaluation that describes the condition of the home.
If at all possible, you should be at the home at the time of the inspection. While it is not necessary, you can learn a great deal by following the inspector as he or she evaluates the home and asking questions. This will help you learn more about the home and how the systems within the home work. For many people, being present during the evaluation also makes it easier to follow the written report once it is completed.
You should not be shocked or dismayed if there are some problems reported in the final evaluation. Even a new home will have flaws. As such, a few problems with the home is no reason to back out of purchasing it. At the same time, you might want to go back to the bargaining table with the seller if the imperfections are substantial. You also need to be realistic with yourself about your available budget and determine if you will be able to afford the repairs that will be necessary for the home. If you cannot, it might be time to start searching the market again.
It is important to keep in mind that a home inspection is not a guarantee that you will not encounter problems with the home in the future - even if it does get a clean bill of slate. If you do run into problems that you believe were present in the home at the time of the inspection, you can meet with the inspector and question the inspection.
Often, the home inspector can clear up any confusion that you may have. If you feel that the inspector did a poor job with the home inspection, you can also enlist the services of a local mediation service. You may be able to recover some expenses due to negligence, but be sure to have a solid case because litigation can be quite costly and is usually a difficult process.
Home Inspection Expert Neil Ray provides Home Inspections in Los Angeles and surrounding areas. Find out more about how home inspection can save you money at www.homespecs.com
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