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