{"id":4441,"date":"2024-01-05T21:50:53","date_gmt":"2024-01-05T21:50:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.listedsimply.com\/?p=4441"},"modified":"2024-01-05T21:55:19","modified_gmt":"2024-01-05T21:55:19","slug":"a-comprehensive-guide-to-home-inspections","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.listedsimply.com\/a-comprehensive-guide-to-home-inspections\/","title":{"rendered":"A Comprehensive Guide to Home Inspections"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
Buying a home is a significant investment, and ensuring that it’s a sound one requires a thorough understanding of the property’s condition. This is where home inspections play a pivotal role. Designed to provide buyers with insights into a property’s overall health, home inspections can save both time and money by uncovering potential issues before the deal is sealed. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll delve into the key types of home inspections recommended by real estate professionals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The cornerstone of any home inspection process is the standard home inspection. This comprehensive evaluation covers a myriad of crucial areas, offering a holistic view of the property’s condition. The key components typically included in a standard home inspection are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It’s crucial to note that inspection rights are explicitly stated in the Contract for Sale, and these rights can vary from one jurisdiction to another. In certain cases, homes may be sold “as-is,” even if an inspection takes place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Termites and other wood-destroying organisms can pose a significant threat to a property’s structural integrity. A termite inspection, conducted by a specialized inspector, aims to identify the presence of wood-destroying insects (WDI) or wood-destroying organisms (WDO, such as fungi) and assess conducive conditions that may attract these pests. Inspection requirements can vary by state, highlighting the importance of a thorough examination tailored to the property’s location.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you’re selling your home, you might wonder if there are common repairs needed after a home inspection. Most buyers, after all, won’t commit to purchasing a place until it’s been thoroughly vetted by a home inspector\u2014and rest assured, if there are problems, this professional will find them! <\/p>\n\n\n\n
So if your home inspection turns up flaws that your home buyer wants fixed, what then? To be sure, repair requests after an inspection are a hassle, and liable to cut into your profits. So for starters, make sure to read your contract carefully to make sure you don’t get locked into repairing something you don’t want to fix. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
You should never sign a contract until you fully understand its obligations, particularly where it concerns your responsibility for repairs. And rest assured, there’s no need for you to fix everything a home inspector thinks could stand for improvement; a home inspection report is not a to-do list. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Basically repairs fall into three categories: ones that are pretty much required, ones that typically aren’t required, and ones that are up for debate. Here’s how to know which is which:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are some repairs that will be required by lenders before they will release funds to finance a buyer’s home purchase. Typically these address structural defects, building code violations, or safety issues. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
If a home inspection reveals such problems, odds are you’re responsible for fixing them. Start by getting some bids from contractors to see how much the repairs will cost. From there, you can fix these problems or\u2014the more expedient route\u2014offer the buyers a repair credit so they can pay for the repairs themselves. This might be preferable since you won\u2019t have to oversee the process; you can move out and move on with your life. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Cosmetic issues and normal wear and tear usually don\u2019t have to be fixed. Some contracts will expressly state that the buyers cannot request any cosmetic repairs to be made and can only ask for fixes to structural defects, building code violations, or safety issues. State laws may also impact your liability as a seller for any issues uncovered during an inspection. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Be sure to check your local ordinances to know which fix-its legally fall in your realm of responsibility. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Between repairs that are typically required and those that aren’t is a whole gray area of repairs that are up for grabs. How you handle those depends in part on the market you’re in. If you’re in a hot seller’s market, you have more power to call the shots. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
While buyers are always advised to have a home inspection so they know what they are buying, when there are a limited number of homes for sale and buyers need to compete for homes, they are more likely to waive their right to ask a seller to make repairs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, in a normal market, you won’t be able to draw such a hard and fast line. Work with your real estate agent to understand what items you should tackle and where you might want to push back. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
You\u2019ll want to be reasonable\u2014after all, you\u2019ve already put a lot of time into the selling process, and it\u2019s likely in your best interest to accommodate some repairs rather than allowing the buyer to walk away. Also, depending on the magnitude of the requested repair, it\u2019s not likely to go away. Now that it\u2019s been uncovered, you\u2019ll need to disclose the issue to the next buyer. See below for a checklist to follow 5 days before closing escrow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Home inspections are a buyer’s safeguard, providing them with valuable information about the property’s condition. By investing in these inspections, buyers can make informed decisions, potentially avoiding costly surprises down the road. Whether it’s the comprehensive standard home inspection or a specialized termite inspection, each serves as a critical tool in the home-buying process, ensuring transparency and peace of mind for all parties involved. Remember, a well-informed buyer is a confident buyer, and home inspections pave the way for just that.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Buying a home is a significant investment, and ensuring that it’s a sound one requires a thorough understanding of the property’s condition. This is where home inspections play a pivotal role. Designed to provide buyers with insights into a property’s overall health, home inspections can save both time and money by uncovering potential issues before […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":4365,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[13,14,20],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n