Buyer's Home Inspection

Why get a home inspection?

Home inspections are a major part of real estate transactions. They provide an opportunity for buyers to identify any major issues with a home before closing. But what exactly are home inspections? And how does one prepare for one? Read on and find out!

Inspections usually take place right after the seller accepts an offer from the buyer. Depending on the size and age of the house, the average buyer’s home inspection will take approximately one hour per 1,000 square feet of house, and when all is done, the inspector will be available to answer any immediate questions or concerns.

Scheduling a home inspection can usually be done in less than five minutes by either calling the home inspector company’s number and having the property information available, or by using the online inspection request form found on this page.

A buyer’s agent usually recommends or arranges for a pre-purchase inspection, aka. a “Buyer’s Home Inspection.”

What are the benefits of our San Diego buyer home inspection?

A buyer home inspection is a relatively inexpensive way of determining the current condition of a property before making an offer on it, or, often times after your offer has been accepted, but before the contract is finalized.

The home inspector is similar to a general practitioner in that he has a broad knowledge base on many of the systems and components that comprise the average house. He or she is trained to assess the overall condition of most if not all of these major components and either demonstrate they’re in good working order, or in some cases, in need of further review by a specialist.

They will take pictures or video clips of any issues that might affect the value or function of the house such as leaks, mold, electrical issues and any potential structural damage.

What does a home inspection include?

The inspector will also test various components of the home’s electric wiring, the homes appliances, the visible plumbing systems, the condition and age of the major systems such as HVAC and water heaters. Once they assess these major items, the condition is explained verbally and in writing to the buyer and the buyer’s agent.

– Home Inspection Checklist –

• Roofs
• Gutters
• Flashing
• Chimneys
• Downspouts
• Drainage
• Patios/ Decks
• Garage
• Doors & Windows

• Foundation
• Driveways
• Sidewalks
• Masonry
• Siding
• Stoops
• Exterior Walls
• Porches

• Ceilings/Floors
• Interior Walls
• Cabinets
• Appliances
• Bath Fixtures
• Visible Plumbing
• Heating/Cooling
• Electric Panel

• Attic Cavity
• Framing
• Crawl Space
• Insulation
• Ventilation
• Furnaces
• Visible Wiring

---

When should a home buyer get a home inspection?

Typically the home inspection is scheduled immediately following the acceptance of the buyer’s offer.

Protect Yourself by Including Home Inspection in Your Purchase Offer

Home buyers need to protect themselves from unknown problems in the home they are purchasing. One way of doing this is by including a home inspection contingency in the purchase offer, which means that if any grave issues are found during an inspection process, they have the right to cancel the agreement or negotiate on repairs.

The home inspector will present all of these findings to you, and once compiled along with any other inspections that may have been done on the property, like termite or pool inspections [and an appraisal], the buyer will have a significant understanding of the current condition of the property and will then be best suited to make an informed decision on how to proceed.

Often times the issues are smaller and the home inspector may also provide advice for solving some issues.  If there is a significant issues or defect, the buyer can usually negotiate a reduction in the purchase price with the seller.

What to expect from the report

After your buyer home inspection, you’ll receive an walk through and verbal overview. During this time [or any time after recieving your report] our home inspectors may also address any of your questions or concerns regarding different items you’ve noted.

Then later, usually within 24 hours, you’ll receive a much more detailed and objective written report listing what is in acceptable and in good condition, but also it will highlight and identify any defects within specific systems or their components as observed by our team of IN-DEPTH Home Inspectors.

After an inspection, can a buyer back out?

Yes, most likely they can. But it has to be written in your offer. Remember, no house is perfect. You should expect the unexpected and be prepared to find a few things in the report you had not considered.

If the defect/item is severe enough, the buyer can usually receive their deposit back in full.  If they choose to cancel the contract with the seller within the inspection period, which typically lasts for around 10 days, then the agent will need to submit the proper paperwork within the contingency period.

As 10 days is the usual, it’s not a lot time. Therefore experts recommend that buyers don’t wait, decide quickly and act promptly.

More often then not, the problems uncovered are not a deal breaker and most people usually move forward with what’s called a “repair request” or a request fora credit against the price.

Now it’s time to discuss the options with your agent. If you’re buying a home, it’s important to know what the seller is willing to do.

The buyer can also ask for certain repairs if they want them as part of the contract. For example, if there are problems with electrical wiring that could be dangerous, then your agent may suggest asking for those wires to be repaired before closing.

Alternatively, the buyer can ask for a credit in the asking price to account for the added cost to have it repaired after closing.

Sellers may be willing to pay for repairs if they’re needed. It can also happen that the buyer and seller agree not only on who pays, but how much, or what kind of credit is given in lieu of payment towards the repairs.