| Why should you do your own real estate | | | | Just use what you do know. Note if something |
| inspection? To get a better deal. It isn't | | | | looks "odd" or "smells funny." Then you can |
| necessary to learn building codes, and you | | | | have a professional inspector have a closer |
| probably should use a professional inspector | | | | look. |
| in any case. The point of learning what to | | | | |
| look for is to have negotiating points. | | | | Real Estate Inspection As A Negotiating Tool |
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| Home Inspection Checklist | | | | You can, of course, just make an offer on a |
| | | | home with an inspection clause. Then, after |
| With a good inspection checklist, you won't | | | | an inspector goes in, you can re-negotiate |
| forget things. There are more than a hundred | | | | the price based on his findings. This is a |
| items on my own list. Could you keep all | | | | common way of doing it. The problem is that |
| those in mind as you walk through a property? | | | | it can often offend the seller, and blow the |
| Did you remember to look for water stains on | | | | deal. Would you like somebody to drop their |
| the basement walls the last time you looked | | | | offer by $10,000 after they already put it in |
| at a house? Bring a list! | | | | writing? |
| | | | |
| A good list is organized by area of the | | | | A better way is to find as many problems with |
| house, usually starting outside. As you walk | | | | the property as you can, BEFORE making the |
| around and then through the home, check each | | | | offer. That way you can take all of these |
| item on the list. Be sure to take notes. If | | | | things into account. Also, a list of the |
| the gutter is coming loose on the side of the | | | | problems presented with an offer is a good |
| house, write that down, along with notes | | | | impersonal (therefore non-offensive) way to |
| about rotten wood or anything else associated | | | | negotiate a lower price. |
| with it. | | | | |
| | | | You don't have to be a carpenter to note that |
| Don't worry if you don't know the difference | | | | a railing is loose. You can see if a home |
| between 12-gauge and 14-gauge wiring. The | | | | needs new paint. Real estate inspection can |
| point isn't to become an expert on all the | | | | start with simple things like these, and end |
| building trades, as useful as that would be. | | | | with a better price for you. |