What Buyers Should Know About The Home Inspection Process

You've found the perfect home but now it is time for the most stressful part of purchasing your new home, the home inspection.  This blog will give you the run-down of what a buyer should be doing before and after the inspection !

Step 1: Pick The Right Home Inspector For You 

• You want to make sure that you don't choose your inspector strictly by price, they range from $500 - $800.  The cheapest is more than likely not the best, but that doesn't mean the most expensive is the best either.  Ask them how they document what they find, and what kind of things are included on their report ? (EX: Do they take serial numbers of the appliances, Do they give repair estimates) 

• All homes in NYS that are being purchased with the help of a mortgage will require a termite report, you should ask your prospective inspectors if they are certified for the termite inspection or will you need to hire a 2nd inspector. 

Step 2: Make A List Of Questions

• Before your home inspection you should sit down with all the decision makers that are involved, and have a list of questions you have about the home prior to the inspection.  Once your at your home inspection you will be overwhelmed by the amount of information you will be receiving so making note of your specific questions will help you to get the answers to what is important to you. 

Step 3: Decide Who Will Be Attending Your Home Inspection

• Remember your home inspection is not a showing of the home, if your a first time home buyer you may want to have a relative accompany you who is more knowledgable.  The decision makers are the most important people, and really the only one who should be attending the inspection.  Their are 2 reasons why your home inspection should not be treated as a showing.  First your inspector will be trying to move thru room by room with you, and family/friends tend to distract the buyer from the important process that is going on with other less important cosmetic items in the house.  The 2nd reason is really very simple, you will be living in this home and doing the work - not them, I abide by this same rule during the home inspection although I am their by opinion on the priority of importance of things to myself.  

Step 4: Reviewing The List Of Items From The Home Inspection 

• You will have 3 different options after your home inspection: Option 1: Come up with a list of all items to be fixed, big or small and attempt to have them fixed or given a credit.  This is rarely recommended but price plays a large part if your paying top dollar you will/should expect a big more.  Option 2: Come up with a list of structural/safety items that need to be fixed or credited for.  This is normally what is expected, remember certain things will be required of the sellers for any buyer so it will be their responsibility.  Option 3: Take the home as is and continue with the purchase, this is most common with cash deals or homes priced significantly under market value because the sellers have already made large credits on the price prior to the home inspection.

My best advice to buyers is to remember that every home will have recommendations of things that should be or need to be done.  What you choose is acceptable is entirely up to you, but remember be reasonable at some point you will be selling a home too ! The best way to make it thru a real estate transaction is by being fair and honest with everyone involved !