Offer accepted on your dream home—YES!!! Since your savvy agent made the offer contingent on a home inspection, your next task is to schedule the home inspector.
It’s important to note that here in Louisville, depending on how your inspection contingency is written, you will likely have the ability to either:
- Request repairs to be made by the seller -or-
- Accept the property in its current condition -or-
- Walk away if the seller is not agreeable to making repairs; or if the findings are just too overwhelming
It is vital that you have a qualified home inspector that is not only thorough but is also not an alarmist on items that truly should not be a deal breaker when considering the bigger picture. Inspectors are just like agents—there are good ones, and unfortunately, there are not-so-good ones.
Covenant recommends that you consider the following 5 areas when choosing the right home inspector for you.
5 Things To Consider When Choosing The Right Home Inspector
1. Qualifications – find out exactly what’s included in your inspection, and ensure that all systems you want to be inspected are actually going to be inspected. Keep in mind that things such as a swimming pool or septic system may require additional inspections.
2. Sample Reports – ask for a sample inspection report for review to see how thoroughly they will be inspecting your home. In today’s world, you should be expecting an electronic report that has been typed and includes photos referencing what the inspector is tagging as an issue. Believe it or not, there are still some inspectors that hand write their reports—yikes!!
3. References – your agent should be able to recommend to you a trusted inspector, however, it is always wise to get references from past buyers that the inspector has worked for previously. There are 2 inspectors in particular here in Louisville that you absolutely DO NOT want to represent you as a buyer, or let in the home as a seller—be sure to consult with your agent!
4. Memberships – just like agents, not all inspectors belong to a national or state association. Membership in one of these types of organizations often means that continued training and education are provided and that they hold themselves to a higher standard in many ways.
5. Errors & Omission Insurance – the way our standard contracts are written, the buyer is actually liable in the event something is damaged in the course of a home inspection. After all, the inspector is human, and it is possible that they break something or even miss something they should have seen. Be sure to ask what the liability of the inspector or inspection company is, and get verification of insurance.
Your inspector should be more than happy to let you tag along during the inspection (as long as you don’t slow them down). That way they can point out anything that should be addressed or fixed. If a home inspector won’t let you, then that’s a sign that they may not be the best fit.
The Bottom Line Of Home Inspections
There will be problems…no home in perfect. Every home has it’s quirks so be prepared ahead of time by reminding yourself that there will be some items to address. This seemingly exhaustive list will also help you to potentially negotiate with the seller.
Home inspectors are on your side and want to be sure that you are aware of what you’re walking in to. Work with a professional who you can trust to give you the most information possible about your new home so that you can make the most educated decision about your purchase.
For information on home-buying, click here.
