Home Inspection
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The buyer will have a home inspection contingency, which means that the offer is only good if the home passes inspection for structural common good. Review how the home inspection works and what you should do to avoid surprises.
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Notes About the Home Inspection
The seller will be under contract
to deliver the plumbing, heating, electrical (including light fixtures and ceiling fans), air conditioning, fireplace, all built-in appliances, and if one exists, swimming pool in working condition
The roof must be free of visible leaks and the structural component of the house must be good condition at the time of closing.
The buyer is not required but will be highly persuaded by their agent to have the home inspected.
You will be obligated to make or pay for repairs, if found during the inspection, to place the above items in working condition.
The cost of the repairs is subject to a repair limitation stated and agreed to in the sales contract.
What will they inspect?
Below is an example of an Inspection Report.
It will be a good idea to make sure these items are in working condition before the inspectors note it. You want to avoid scaring away potential buyers.
| The Roof, Attic and Related Features: | The Plumbing System: |
|---|---|
| roofing type and materials, flashing and joint material, insulation, gutters and down spouts, ventilation, skylights, vents, turbines or fans, chimney, any leakage. | supply lines and pipes, water pressure and drainage flow, fixtures and faucets, hot water heater, tubs, sinks, toilets, showers, whirlpool, laundry appliances, waste disposal. |
| HVAC/Fireplace: | The Electrical System: |
|---|---|
| heating type and condition, furnace, heat pump, duck work, registers and grills, fireplace flues. | exterior service and meters, fuse and breaker panels, capacity, grounding, wiring, switches and outlets, electrical fixtures, any potential hazards. |
| Air Conditioning: | Kitchen Appliances: |
|---|---|
| equipment type, ductwork, filters. | dishwasher, range burners, oven elements, grills, vents, microwave, garbage disposal, trash compactor. |
| Foundation
and Exterior Structures: |
Yard: |
|---|---|
| foundation type and construction, settlement, water penetration, exterior walls, potential termite or rot damage, windows, doors, porches, garage, decks, swimming pools and pumps. | dunstable soil, drainage, fences, grading, retaining walls, payments and driveways. |
| Download the Consumer Housing Inspection report from Freddie Mac as a guide: click here |
| Other Important Inspection Tests: | Completing a Final Walk Through: |
|---|---|
Other
tests required by law or your vendor may
include environmental and termite inspections. Termite Control Information:
Find pest control contractors: Search Yellow Pages for: |
|
Seller Inspection
Though the buyer is obligated to pay the cost of an inspection,
some sellers have their home independently inspected to avoid surprises.
Other Places to Look:
Ask your friends, family, real estate agent, attorney or lender to recommend a good inspector.
Look for inspectors who are members of the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI) or who are members of professional affiliations.
The ASHI sets the standards for home inspections and requires its members to abide by a code of ethics and standards.
ASHI Inspector search:
www.ashi.org
The cost for the inspection will vary between $250-350, which the buyer is obligated to pay.
The inspection usually takes 2-3 hours to complete. The home buyer should accompany the inspector so that you can ask questions and assess how much repair may be required, if any
Most inspectors use a checklist that they mark and note any repairs as they inspect the home. The Inspection Report usually provides maintenance tips on how to keep the home and property in good shape.
If the inspection finds serious flaws in the house
such as cracks in the interior walls due to settling, the buyer will probably walk away from the contract based on their contingency clauses. So it is a good idea to have your home inspected (and make repairs, if needed) to avoid losing a potential buyer.
Top-ten inspection list — from inspectamerican.com
www.inspectamerica.com
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