Do Not Leave the Inspection to the Home Inspector Alone

When it comes to inspecting the property during the home buying process, it is not only the home inspector who is considered to be responsible for ensuring that all defects are documented. Home buyers should also recognize that they have to be involved.

There are many stories involving home buyers who found themselves shelling out money for repair and renovation costs that were not expected since they had the home inspected before purchasing it. There are even cases when the buyer had to hire an attorney and go through arbitration.

These situations can actually be avoided if the home buyer got involved in the home inspection process. Remember that it is actually impossible to discover all defects especially in older homes and you will need all the help you can get to be able to unearth as many defects as you can.

Even if you hire a professional home inspector, you should be present throughout the inspection. It is also important that you ask the inspector regarding the condition of the property so that you can make informed decisions regarding needed repairs.

If you hire a local inspector, you can also ask about the common home defects or problems that were discovered in the immediate neighborhood. You should also document all conversation with the seller or even ask them to email their disclosure. Keep these documents for future reference.

Make sure that all recommendations given by the inspector in their report should be followed. Usually, reports involving termites, engineering and drainage will require further checking.

The responsibility of the home buyer does not stop here. It is important that all disclosure statements are read and understood especially those that concern inspecting the property. It would also be wise to go over the disclaimers that detail the limitations of the agent’s and inspector’s responsibilities.

In case a serious defect is discovered after closing, buyers are advised to review their files and determine if the defect was disclosed or discovered by the home inspector. If it is not there, be sure to speak with your agent so that the seller can be contacted and be made aware of the problem. This way, you save time and money since the issue can be resolved right there and then without arbitration.