| Home inspections are done after your offer has been | | | | If the real estate market has been slow and the |
| accepted. | | | | house has been onthe market for a while, you should |
| Generally, you make an offer contingent on the | | | | be in a stronger position tonegotiate with the seller |
| property passingits home inspection. Basically, the | | | | regarding the issues brought up by thehome |
| home inspection is to protectyou and the seller in | | | | inspection. |
| case there happens to be something wrongwith the | | | | On the other hand, if the house has multiple offers, |
| house. It should give you a good idea of what you | | | | the selleris in the stronger position. If you really want |
| areabout to purchase, what problems you may | | | | the house, thinkcarefully about your options before |
| encounter, and allow youtime to negotiate the sales | | | | accepting it without theseller fixing the problems. Is |
| contract with the new information thatyou have | | | | the problem bad enough that youwould want to pass |
| gained about the house. | | | | up on the house all together? Or are theyproblems |
| A thorough home inspection would include checking | | | | that can be fixed relatively easily? |
| electrical,plumbing, gas and water lines in addition to | | | | Think of your financial situation. For instance, if you |
| individual outlets,light sockets and faucets. The | | | | are gettinga good deal on the house you are looking |
| foundation, roof, windows, siding,attic or crawl space | | | | at, would it beless expensive to replace the roof |
| would be inspected. The airconditioning/heat unit | | | | yourself on this house than tolose the house to |
| should be inspected. In other words, athorough | | | | another buyer and possibly end up paying morefor a |
| overall inspection of the house should be done. | | | | house that does not need a new roof? |
| The home inspector will arrive with a home inspection | | | | An important aspect to remember, is that, as with all |
| checklistor a home inspection worksheet. These | | | | people youmay hire for a job, home inspectors come |
| detailed documents willlist every item that needs to | | | | with a wide range ofqualifications. Ask your realtor |
| be inspected. Go to Google andtype "free home | | | | for recommendations and then askthe home |
| inspection checklist" to see the extent of whatthe | | | | inspector yourself about their qualifications, |
| home inspector will be looking at. | | | | methods,and approach. Ask to see the home |
| No house is perfect, so expect to have at least a | | | | inspection checklist theinspector will use and ask how |
| few potentialproblems uncovered by the inspector. | | | | long the inspection will take. Athorough inspection |
| Once the inspection hasbeen completed and you | | | | should take several hours or more tocomplete. |
| have reviewed the report, you need todecide if any | | | | Use the information in the inspection to make a |
| of the uncovered problems need to be fixed and | | | | sound, well-grounded decision about the house you |
| bywhom. You can ask the seller to fix the problems | | | | are planning to buy. |
| -- which theseller may or may not do. | | | | Whatever you do, don't let your heart lead you to |
| When negotiating with the seller, consider what type | | | | make a poordecision when your head is telling you to |
| of marketyou are in --- has the market been slow? | | | | look at the facts andmove along. The home |
| Are the houses sitting onthe market a long time? Or | | | | inspection is just one more tool that willhelp you find |
| are there multiple offers on houseswithin hours or | | | | and purchase the home that is right for you. |
| days? | | | | |