home inspection

Top Tips for Buyers – What Happens When You Get a Bad Home Inspection?

October 27, 2021 By Deborah Ward

Here are some tips for buyers about what to do when you get a bad home inspection.

You spent weeks trudging through home after home and you finally found it, the perfect home. You offered and counter-offered and finally got it! But now your excitement has come crashing down. The home inspection came back with some problems that were a bit more serious than replacing some woodwork or painting. So what do you do now?

First, take a deep breath. Step back and remember the reason why you got the home inspection in the first place. Would you want to go through with the sale and then find them? Of course not. Home inspections are done to protect you; to find any troubles before you buy, so be glad things were found. Anyone who’s been through it will tell you that emotionally it’s no fun, so step back, get some perspective and then act.

Next, turn to your Realtor for help. They’ve been there before and know what is fixable and what you should run from. Your Realtor will be able to get professionals into the home to see the extent of the problem or problems and then get estimates for fixing it. Then you can make smart decisions about whether to walk away from the contract or negotiate who will fix it. You’re best bet is to remember that if the sellers won’t negotiate, walking away may be the best bet.

If the sellers will negotiate there are a few things that you need to decide with your Realtor. First, how much can you afford to contribute to the repairs? Then take that figure and decide do you 1) just pay out of pocket and do it yourself after settlement; 2) negotiate with the seller to reimburse them for your agreed upon portion of the repairs; or 3) ask for a credit against the selling price or closing costs, If you choose option 1 remember to let the settlement company know the sellers portion of the agreed upon repair costs so it can be paid to you out of the proceeds.

A bad home inspection isn’t the end of the world, or even the end of the contract. Remain calm and think it through.

Why the Heck do You Need Home Inspection When Buying a Home?

October 27, 2021 By Deborah Ward

So why is a home inspection so important? Sometimes getting the home of your dreams is a challenge, and it might seem like a good idea to ensure getting the deal by dispensing with the home inspection. It will give you the edge, right? Maybe, but at what cost?

A Big Investment

Buying a home is the biggest investment any one person will make. Not protecting yourself when making that investment is silly. Unless you know exactly what is right or wrong with a home, giving up the ability to inspect a property before purchase can get you into hot water.

Getting one can mean being able to renegotiate the purchase price of the home, walk away from a problem home and protect your investment in the future.

Start with the Important Stuff

A home inspector will look for a lot of different things. He starts with the important stuff, the structure of the home. A home inspector climbs onto the roof, pokes at the foundation, and crawls into attic space looking for water condensation or penetration from the roof. They look for cracks in walls, ceilings and floors, evidence of mold and any signs of water leakage.

Outside, they look for any place that may allow water to seep into the home. They also look for things like broken glass seals, missing caulking, settlement cracks, loose or missing roofing shingles and flashing.

Plumbing and Electrical Systems

Inside they check all of the plumbing and electrical systems. Is there evidence of leaky pipes? Are sinks and tubs draining adequately? What about water pressure? Does the hot water heater work? If there is a sump pump, is it working? Is there a filtration or water softening system and does it work? Should there be a filtration or water softening system?

All the electrical components are examined to ensure they fit and are operating safely. Are there ungrounded outlets or switches? Is the electrical panel adequate for the size of the home and is it up to date? Are there working smoke and carbon monoxide detectors?

Other Systems

Other systems like the heating and air conditioning working properly? Is the home adequately insulated and ventilated? The systems in the home can be expensive fixes if not working properly.

Don’t waive the home inspection. It could be a big mistake.

Selling Your Home? Take Care of These Repairs First and Don’t Lose Thousands in Equity

October 27, 2021 By Deborah Ward

If you are selling your home you may think that doing repairs to it before the sale isn’t necessary. Stop that train of thought because there are a few repairs or upgrades you should do before selling so you don’t lose thousands in equity. All of these fixes will more than pay for themselves.

Floor covering issues:

Depending on the age of your home, and the condition of the floor coverings, you may find that you need to repair or replace them. Carpeting is the least expensive to put down, but can turn off some buyers. Hardwoods are popular and if you have them already sometimes just having them refinished will do the trick. No one wants cracked tiles so if you have ceramic tiling, be sure to replace any chipped or cracked tiles and then replace the grout.

Walls:

Before putting the house on the market giving all the walls, ceilings and woodwork a fresh coat of paint is a good idea. Popcorn ceilings are so out! Get rid of popcorn ceilings, especially if it has asbestos in it. Have it professionally removed. It will turn up in a home inspection and bite you with buyers. Use fiberglass tape on large cracks, cover with joint compound and sand. Using a neutral color like a light tan or off white will make rooms look larger and brighter. If you have wallpaper, remove it. You may love it, but others won’t and it is a sure fire way to make your home look dated. Update wood paneling with paint or take it down and paint.

Kitchens and baths:

If your cabinets are in good shape leave them alone, but if they aren’t or are old and dated, try to freshen them up with paint, or replace them. Replace appliances. Don’t go overboard. Minor and mid-range remodeling will return almost 100% of your dollar. Granite counters are great, but sometimes laminates, newer faucets and sparkling sinks will also sell. Buyers don’t want to spot leaky faucets or stained sinks. In the bathroom, replace floors, fixtures and lighting. Sinks and cabinetry if necessary and anything that leaks. Home inpection will turn up any imperfections so be ready to ace the inspection!

Roofs and other exterior items:

If the roof is old, replace it. That is one job that buyers will balk at for sale. Patch sidewalk cement and resurface asphalt driveways if necessary. Caulk windows and doors, replace doorknobs and locks and freshen up the gardens.

Floor covering issues:

Walls:

Kitchens and baths:

Roofs and other exterior items:

The Deb Ward Team