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Should I Back Out After A Really Bad Home Inspection?

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I think it’s safe to say the fear of a home inspection is that it will be a “bad” home inspection. This means major problem with the home will be uncovered. This will result in the buyer wanting to back out of the sale. But, when should you back out of buying a home? Does a bad home inspection automatically mean losing the home of your dreams? Of course not!

Major issues can always be repaired

If a major issue, or many issues, are uncovered during the home inspection; that doesn’t mean the deal is dead. Many, if not all, issues can be repaired. The goal should be to discuss the repairs with the seller and try to come to an agreement. In this case, both parties can benefit. The homeowner will have to address the issues either with you or before another seller makes an offer. They will want to do it with you if they can. And your real estate agent should be able to negotiate on your behalf.

You have a few options in this scenario. You can either decrease your offer on the home to make up for the repairs you will have to make. You can try to negotiate the repair fees into the price of the home. Or lastly, you can require the homeowner to pay for the repairs and have them completed before the sale of the home. Depending on what the problems are will determine which solution is best.

When to back out of a home purchase

Among your many options, backing out of the home purchase is still an option. You are under no obligation to complete the purchase of the home is something makes you feel uncomfortable. Sometimes the problems throughout the home are just too many or too big for the home buyer to want to continue.

If the seller is unwilling to negotiate, then likely you will want to cut the deal. If your real estate agent won’t help you in your negotiation, then you may want to find a new agent. The end goal should be to come to an agreement that both parties feel are fair. In fact, you may want to include a strong clause in the contract. This clause could cover the buyer by requiring the right to a professional home inspection, and if any issues are found the seller would be required to have them fixed or pay a set amount towards the repairs. Otherwise, the deposit should be returned in full. Including a clause such as this one may put your mind at ease.

Keep an open mind and don’t stress

No matter the situation, the expectation should not be that the home inspection will be “bad”. And a “bad” home inspection should not automatically kill a deal. The truth is, there could come a point where you have to make the decision to stick with it or walk away. And your real estate agent should act as a guide to help you make these decisions.

Expect to be fair as much as you want to be treated fairly. And if at any point you feel uncomfortable you should not feel obligated to do anything. The best thing you can do is attend the home inspection. Take the time to be there so you can ask the inspector any questions you have about any findings. A good home inspector will explain their findings, offer options or even recommendations, and give you as much detail as they can about your home. Your home inspector may even educate you on things you didn’t know about your home.

At Divinity Inspection Service we strive to make our home inspections both thorough and comfortable. Our goal is that you feel happy with your home purchase. But we also want you to be educated about your purchase. Schedule your home inspection right here on our website.

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What To Look For Before Your Home Inspection

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Buying a home is a long process, filled with paperwork and multiple people. However, as you search for your first home, there are a few things you can look for before your home inspection. These things, if you find them, might eliminate the chance for surprises.

Look around the home

You will need to go beyond the aesthetics and into the nitty gritty. There are a few tell-tale signs around the home that you might not notice if you weren’t looking for them.

  • Water stained driveways could indicate potential flooding
  • A backed up gutter system (if you’re able to see it) could indicate the reason for flooding or be a sign the homeowner isn’t take proper care of the home
  • Look for proper drainage around the home
  • Look out for foundation cracks, which would be big cracks from the bottom to the top of the home

 

Check out Systems

This may seem like an obvious one, but you might be surprised to learn many people do not look at a home’s system. This includes things like:

  • The water heater
  • The air conditioning
  • Turn on all faucets to look for leaks and check water pressure
  • If fireplaces are present, ask if they work or have ever been used

Ask as many questions as you would like

Don’t be afraid to ask any questions about the home. Either the homeowner or the real estate agent should be able to answer them or find an answer for you. The more questions you ask, the more likely you won’t have any big surprises. Ask the hard questions:

  • Have there been any major issues with the systems in the home?
  • Does the homeowner expect any potential major repairs with the home currently?
  • Does the pool have a leak?
  • Have there been any roof issues? How old is the roof?

They may tell you all of these questions can be answered during your home inspection, and of course they can. But, if you can get some of those answers ahead of time, why not? Don’t wait to spend your money on a home inspection to find out details you can get now.

We here at Divinity Inspection Service strive to help all our clients feel as comfortable as possible during the home inspection process. You can always call us to ask questions before your home inspection. Schedule your inspection here!

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Are You Scaring The Seller?

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If you are buying a home, then you might be surprised to learn that you could actually scare your seller! Right now in Tampa, it’s a seller’s market. That means you are likely to run into competition and bidding wars if you’re purchasing a home. This also means you have to make quick decisions if you find a home you like. However, there are a few things you could do that would scare a seller and make them want to choose someone else to sell their house to. Here are three thing you definitely don’t want to do!

You aren’t pre-approved for a mortgage

The best thing you can do for yourself is get your finances aligned. This will allow you to make a purchasing decision much more quickly. If the seller has to make a decision between you and another interested buyer, and one of you don’t have your finances in order, the other purchaser is going to win that one.

Too many home repair requests

Searching for a new build is the closest you will come to a home that doesn’t need any repairs. And even then, it could still need some. So you have to understand and accept that the home you purchase will need some repairs. If the repairs are minor, we recommend you consider taking care of them yourself. If the repair is major, then you should include the repair in your request to the homeowner or in the contract of the sale. But keep in mind, too many repair requests is likely to scare off a seller.

Discussing changing the home in front of the seller

This happens all the time! It’s so common and yet many home buyers don’t even realize they are doing it. You need to remember that the seller has likely put their heart and style into the home. Especially if they’ve lived in the house for a very long time. When you start discussing tearing down walls and major remodels, you can actually scare the seller out of the sale! Be mindful when you are around them and when you are discussing making changes to what is still their home.

We hope these tips are helpful as you search for your new home. Keep in mind, one of the most important decisions you make before completing the purchase is hiring a home inspector! Don’t make any final decisions without having your home inspected first. You can schedule your inspection right here on our website.

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Top Technology Trends In Real Estate: Look Out

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Technology expands across all industries, and real estate is no inspection. In fact, technology is making significant impacts on the real estate market. Here are some of the top technology trends in real estate to look out for in 2018!

Remote Home Control

Have you seen the new Samsung ad for the fridge that connects to your phone? One person can be at home writing things directly on the fridge door and you will receive that message directly on your phone! Now that is impressive technology. New equipment like this is making universal home control a standard in new homes. Managing lights, locks, even A/C vents from your phone or iPad will become a common practice.

The Use of Drones

The use of drones in real estate is already gaining in popularity. Home inspectors are using them in their home inspections. Real estate agents are using them to generate videos for a listing. The list goes on. Drones give a dramatic and effective experience of seeing a home, without actually seeing it. This technology is truly fantastic and will only increase in usefulness in the real estate industry.

Smart Systems throughout the Home

Similar to a universal home system, homebuyers today are also looking for smart home systems throughout the home. These include smart thermostats that self-control to optimize energy efficiency. Another would be a smart water system. These systems control aspects such as determining exactly how much water needs to be used to water your grass or will automatically turn off when it rains. The goal of smart systems is to become the most energy efficient on the most automatic scale possible.

These are just three of many emerging patterns and desires in today’s homebuyers. As a home inspector, we love to implement technology where we can. Anything to improve our home inspections. We use infrared lights to detect water leaks or water damage. We also use a pool leak detector to examine the state of the pool. If you need a home inspection be sure to give us a call or you can schedule your home inspection right here on our website!

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5 Questions Every Home Buyer Should Ask About Home Inspections

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Home inspections tend to come with a variety of questions. New home buyers might find themselves feeling nervous or anxious about their home inspection. Here are five questions you can ask to help ease any uneasy feelings you might have.

Who should choose your home inspector?

Will you rely on your real estate agent to choose your inspector? Should you ask for multiple referrals? All of these are good options but no matter what referral you receive you should always do your own research. Look at reviews, check out their website, and don’t be afraid to call to shop around.

What is the most important thing a client can do?

The biggest mistake you can make is not showing up for your home inspection. Sometimes you may need to let the homeowner know you will be attending the inspection, but they should also expect you to. Being at the inspection gives you the opportunity to ask any questions you might have about findings from the inspection.

What if the inspector misses something

A good inspection will check everything in and around the home. You can always ask your inspector about their procedures if something is later found that was missed during the inspection. If you discover something after you move in, the first person you want to call is your home inspector.

What happens if a major issue is found?

Most home buyers are worried about their inspection because they are worried about the inspector finding a major issue. However, even if a major issue is uncovered it doesn’t specifically mean the sale is thrown. You would rather know about a big issue before you complete the purchase. More than likely, you will be able to work out a deal with the homeowner.

What if something happens to a house between inspection and closing?

Something happening to the house between an inspection and closing is a rare occurrence. However, most sales contracts require the homeowner to keep the home in the same condition it was as the day of the inspection. So this means if something does go wrong, it will be the seller’s responsibility to fix it. You will have a chance on your final walk through of the home to make sure everything is as promised.

We hope these questions will help to ease your anxiousness as you go through the process of purchasing your home. We are always willing to answer any questions you might have or provide support during our inspections. You can schedule your inspection with us on line right here on our website.