What if the home inspection report reveals problems? If there are problems in your home inspection report, it is up to you to make the decision of whether or not you want to buy the property. If a home inspector...
If a home inspector finds problems in a building, it does not necessarily mean you shouldn't buy it; only that you will know in advance what type of repairs to anticipate. A seller may even be willing to make repairs because of the significant problems discovered by the inspector, says John Crampton, owner and founder of Crampton Inspection Service. He started his home inspection business eight years ago.
Almost all properties have some flaws, and it doesn't matter how well maintained the property may be. Flaws should not affect a buyer's purchase decision. If major defects are revealed, such as the foundation, then you may decide to re-negotiate your offer. If your budget is tight, or if you do not wish to become involved in future repair work, you may decide that this is not the property for you. "The choice is yours," says Crampton. It is possible that remodeling is not the route a buyer may want to go. In this case, find something that doesn't require as much work.
If a problem occurs after buying the home and moving in, and the buyer feels the problem was visible at the time of inspection and it wasn't mentioned in the report, then you can call and meet with the inspector to clarify the situation. If the problem isn't alleviated, contact a mediation service to help resolve the misunderstanding. If the inspector has Errors and Omissions liability insurance, then find out what the next step is if the inspector is not willing to work the problem out.
If a home inspection report shows no negative areas at all, you may want to consider getting a second opinion. Even new construction homes usually have problems noted on an inspection report. According to Allaroundthehouse.com, a home inspection gives the buyer the opportunity to learn about the new home and how to look after it in the future. Even relatively new homes that appear to be in perfect condition can be hiding a serious defect. The sooner the problem is discovered, the less expensive it is to repair. Minor repairs are to be expected and can be repaired after closing. Major problems can cause a negotiation of the asking price between the buyer and seller. If the seller is not willing to change the asking price, then the buyer should request that the problems be repaired. If the problems are costly and the seller refuses to work with you, it's probably in your best interest to walk away.
According to Americanhomeinspectiondirectory.com, "Opinions vary greatly as to which conditions noted are acceptable 'as is' or could cost you a lot of money down the road." All houses will have some form of a minor problem. All houses age and need maintenance and touch ups over the years. All home inspectors are expected to report on the negative aspects of the condition of a home to help a homebuyer know what will need to be maintained and fixed in the future.
