| Every house has something wrong with it. Even | | | | back out of the contract. |
| brand new homes. Homes are made by people out | | | | |
| of wood and stone. Neither the people making | | | | Any time you have a foundation problem, or |
| the house, nor the wood and stone it is made | | | | anything similar you have to be very careful |
| out of it are perfect. Mistakes happen and | | | | in proceeding. Foundation problems are very |
| less than perfect materials are used. | | | | expensive to fix and unless the problem is |
| | | | fixed and the repair company will keep the |
| Sometimes this results in a problem. That is | | | | warranty in place for you as the new owner |
| why you need to get a home inspection done | | | | you might want to look for another house. |
| before you buy any house. In fact, you should | | | | |
| have it in your contract as a contingency | | | | If the problems are not major, you can ask |
| that you will only buy the hose if you | | | | the sellers to simply reduce the price of the |
| approve of the findings of the home | | | | house by the amount it would take them to |
| inspection. | | | | have the items repaired. This works great if |
| | | | you are handy with your hands or know a |
| Notice the wording of the previous paragraph. | | | | carpenter or someone who can do the work for |
| It says that you will buy the house only if | | | | you cheaply. Normally, sellers overestimate |
| you approve of the findings. It does not say | | | | the amount these repairs would cost. |
| you will buy the house if there are no | | | | |
| termites. This is what we in the business | | | | For example, if there was a leak upstairs and |
| call a weasel clause. It lets you get out of | | | | the downstairs ceiling is stained, this looks |
| the contract for a stupid reason. | | | | like a serious problem. But if the leak is |
| | | | fixed and the ceiling is replastered and |
| If the home inspector has several items of | | | | painted, the problem is solved. To a |
| concern for you on his report, you have a big | | | | contractor this is a 2 hour job and cheap to |
| decision to make. Will you be able to live | | | | fix. But for a seller to call a contractor |
| with the house if the problems are repaired? | | | | and get it fixed it is a major hassle and |
| Will these problems cause you a problem when | | | | will cost a few hundred dollars. Money that |
| it is time for you to sell the house? Can the | | | | any seller with common sense will quickly |
| problems be cheaply repaired or will the | | | | deduct from the sales price of the home if |
| problem keep occurring? | | | | you will let this problem go. |
| | | | |
| If the problems can be fixed, you can ask the | | | | The home inspection and the home inspector |
| sellers to have the items fixed, or to reduce | | | | are two of the best friends a home buyer has. |
| the price of the house the same amount as it | | | | Make sure you use them to your utmost |
| would take to pay to fix those items. If the | | | | advantage. They can save you a lot of money |
| items are too large, you should be able to | | | | when buying a house. |