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