What Really Matters
Buying a home?
The process can be stressful. A home inspection
is supposed to give you peace of mind, but often has the opposite effect. You
will be asked to absorb a lot of information in a short time. This often
includes a written report, checklist, photographs, environmental reports, and
what the inspector himself says during the inspection. All this combined with
the seller's disclosure and what you notice yourself makes the experience even
more overwhelming.
What should you do?
Relax. Most of your inspection will be maintenance
recommendations, life expectancies and minor imperfections. These are nice to
know about. However, the issues that really matter will fall into four
categories:
1. Major defects. An example of this would be a structural
failure.
2. Things that lead to major defects. A small roof-flashing
leak, for example.
3. Things that may hinder your ability to finance, legally
occupy, or insure the home.
4. Safety hazards, such as an exposed live buss bar at the
electric panel.
Anything in these categories should be addressed. Often a
serious problem can be corrected inexpensively to protect both life and property
(especially in categories 2 and 4).
Most sellers are honest and are often surprised to learn of
defects uncovered during an inspection. Realize that sellers are under no
obligation to repair everything mentioned in the report. No home is perfect.
Keep things in perspective. Don't kill your deal over things that don't matter.
It is inappropriate to demand that a seller address deferred maintenance,
conditions already listed on the seller's disclosure, or nit-picky items.
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