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Once you have signed a contract and agreed to purchase a home, the next step is the home inspection. To find a good inspector, you could ask for a referral from a family member or friend. You could also get the recommendation of a good agent. You want to have an inspector out at your new home within 48 hours of you signing the contract, so you have enough time to get the inspection done and negotiate repairs after the fact.
When choosing a home inspector, it’s not a bad idea to ask them for a referral list or past inspection report, to kind of get an idea about their work. After the inspection is done, the inspector will go over the deficiencies with you. It usually takes a day or two and the report can run anywhere from 10-30 pages.
Usually, we like to go over the report with our clients to discuss the deficiencies in the home and what we should do about them. Then we go back to the listing agent to ask for repairs, or cash in lieu of repairs. I always recommend taking the cash. This way you can do the repairs yourself, hiring your own contractor to get things done the way you want.
Finally, don’t get too alarmed by the report when you see it. It’s the job of the inspector to find any small detail, so there will always be some. However, the only things you really need to look at are the major issues. The minor ones will sort themselves out.
An inspection makes the process so much smoother. If you need any assistance or would like a referral for a great home inspector or engineer, give us a call or send us an email. We can’t wait to hear from you!
