| Who Needs a Home Inspection Anyway? | | | | made sense for an agent to find one or two home |
| Buying a home is one of the most important | | | | inspectors that he/she could regularly recommend to |
| purchases you will make in your lifetime, so you | | | | clients. However, this Agent / Home Inspector |
| should be sure that the home (house, condo, | | | | relationship carries a conflict of interest. |
| townhouse) you want to buy is in good condition. A | | | | Here's why: |
| home inspection is an evaluation of a home's | | | | (a)Real Estate Agents make commission when their |
| condition by a trained expert. During an independent | | | | client buys the home. |
| home inspection, a qualified inspector takes an | | | | (b)A client will only buy if s/he finds the home's |
| in-depth and impartial look at the property you plan | | | | condition acceptable (Among other reasons) |
| to buy. | | | | (c)So, a negative home inspection can stop a home |
| The home inspector will: | | | | sale (and the Agent's commission) |
| * Evaluate the physical condition: the structure, | | | | Now, this is not an accusation of any Agents or |
| construction and mechanical systems. | | | | Home Inspectors. However, in this relationship, the |
| * Identify items that should be repaired or replaced. | | | | Home Inspector may feel stated or unstated |
| * Estimate the remaining useful life of the major | | | | pressure from the Agent. There may be pressure to |
| systems (such as electrical, plumbing, heating, air | | | | deliver positive home inspection reports or the agent |
| conditioning), equipment, structure and finishes. | | | | may pressure the home inspector to produce |
| After the inspection is complete, you will receive a | | | | inspection reports in less time at the expense of |
| written report of the findings from the home | | | | performing a more thorough inspection. After all, the |
| inspector, usually within 24 hours. | | | | Agent could easily replace the Home Inspector with |
| Finding a Qualified Independent Home Inspector | | | | another who may write more lenient reports. To be |
| As the homebuyer, it is your responsibility to carefully | | | | honest, there are many other Home Inspectors who |
| select a qualified inspector. I stress that it is "your" | | | | would line up to get a steady flow of new clients |
| responsibility, and not your agent's. After you | | | | from the Agent. |
| purchase your new home, your agent will not be | | | | The Bottom Line: Spending Hundreds May Save |
| responsible for paying the unexpected repair costs | | | | Thousands |
| that result from non-thorough home inspections. Any | | | | When you make a written offer on a home, you |
| unexpected repair costs will be your responsibility. | | | | should insist that the contract state that the offer is |
| Understanding the Home Inspector / Realtor | | | | contingent on a home inspection conducted by a |
| Relationship | | | | qualified independent inspector of your choice. |
| For your protection, hire an independent home | | | | Independent home inspectors are hired by you, and |
| inspector, instead of a home inspector who is | | | | they do not have a relationship with the real esate |
| recommended by your real estate agent. Here's why: | | | | agent. Hiring a qualified independent home inspector |
| Most home inspectors solicit real estate agents for | | | | could keep you from buying a house that will cost |
| work, hoping that the real estate agent will | | | | you many thousands of dollars in repairs down the |
| exclusively recommend his home inspection services | | | | road. Only after the independent home inspection is |
| to all the real estate agent's clients. Agents work | | | | complete and you are satisfied with the results of |
| with many home-buyers throughout the year, and | | | | the inspection, your real estate purchase offer can |
| each home-buyer will eventually need a home | | | | proceed. |
| inspection in order to close the sale. So, it originally | | | | |