| Is there any good reason to do your own home | | | | "odd" or "smells funny." Afterwards, you can have a |
| inspection? How about to get a better deal. Every | | | | professional inspector take a closer look.Home |
| flaw you can find is a negotiating point. You don't | | | | Inspection As A Negotiating Toolmany buyers make |
| have to learn building codes, and you probably should | | | | an offer on a home with an inspection contingency |
| use a professional inspector in any case. The point of | | | | clause. After an inspector goes in, the buyer can |
| learning what to look for is to protect yourself and | | | | re-negotiate the price based on his findings, or at |
| get a better deal.Home Inspection - Use A ChecklistA | | | | least know that nothing is wrong. This isn't a bad |
| good home inspection checklist, keeps you from | | | | way to go, but lowering your offer too much can |
| forgetting things. I have more than a hundred items | | | | often offend a seller, and blow the deal. How would |
| on my own list. Think you could keep all these items | | | | you feel if somebody dropped their offer by $10,000 |
| in mind as you walk through a property? For tht | | | | after they already put it in writing?A better way is to |
| matter, did you remember to look for water stains | | | | find as many problems with the property as you can, |
| on the basement walls the last time you looked at a | | | | BEFORE making the offer. A list of these problems |
| house? Bring a list!Good lists are organized by area of | | | | presented with an offer is a good impersonal |
| the house, usually starting outside. Walk around and | | | | (therefore non-offensive) way to present a low first |
| then through the home, checking each item on the | | | | offer. It's a good idea to keep the inspection |
| list. Take notes. If a gutter is coming loose on the | | | | contingency in the offer, but you probably won't |
| side of the house, write it down, along with notes | | | | have to lower your offer this way.There is no need |
| about rotting wood or anything else you notice.It | | | | to be a carpenter to note that a railing is loose. Most |
| doesn't matter if you don't know the difference | | | | of us can see if a home needs new paint. Home |
| between 12-gauge and 14-gauge wiring. You don't | | | | inspection can start with simple things like these, and |
| have to become an expert on all the building trades, | | | | end with a better price for you.Steve Gillman has |
| as useful as this would be. You just have to use | | | | invested in real estate for years. |
| what you do know. Make a note if something looks | | | | |