Everything buyers need to hear to prepare for their home inspections.
If you’re about to buy a home, congratulations! This is a very exciting process. However, you should also know that some parts of the process can be challenging. Today, I’m here to talk about the biggest hurdle you face when buying a home: the home inspection. I’m discussing why this is so important, and I’m getting expert advice from experienced home inspector John Koch with Home Quest Home Inspection.
Let’s start with the qualifications a home inspector should have. In Connecticut, they need to be licensed. However, their license doesn’t necessarily mean they have experience. You should look for someone who has thousands of inspections under their belt and produces a good report with high-quality information.
When a home inspector goes to a home, the main things they will be focusing on are the roof, the mechanicals, the windows and doors, the electrical, and the plumbing. They’ll note smaller things in the report, but they’ll mainly focus on the big problems like structural issues.
“The inspection is the most important part of the purchase process.”
A good home inspector will take the time to be thorough and will clearly explain any issues to the buyer. No home is perfect, so a good inspector will categorize issues so buyers know if they’re serious issues and need immediate attention or not.
After the buyer reviews the written inspection report, they will discuss it with their Realtor to decide on serious issues related to health and safety. Then the agent will discuss those with the seller’s listing agent and try to negotiate a resolution. The seller can either agree to make the repairs before closing, or they can give the buyer a credit so they can make the repairs after closing.
The inability to come to a negotiated agreement on perceived serious repairs is the most common reason that transactions fall apart and don’t progress to contract. That’s why I say the inspection is the most important part of the purchase process. Therefore, if you want help with buying a home and navigating inspections, I would be happy to assist you! Call or email me anytime, and I hope to hear from you soon.
