Home Inspection – Preparing Yourself for the Surprises

inspection issues

When you hire a home inspector for your home for sale in West Bloomfield, Michigan, you are often afraid of losing the house because this is the time when the house reveals its secrets. When the home inspection goes on for long, you become disappointed that you have to let go of your dream house.

However, why retract the offer when you can come up with a counteroffer? Yes, there might be a few repairs but those can be easily dealt with if the seller agrees to offer you a few warranties or other incentives.

Let’s have a look at what this inspection holds for you and your dream house:

The first thing you need to do is stop worrying about the home inspection. The inspector will make sure that all problems are noted down. These problems are invisible to an untrained eye, so you can trust the inspector. Once the report is in your hand, consult with your real estate agent and come up with a counteroffer if you don’t like the results.

The Connection between the Inspection Report and the Appraisal Value

As mentioned earlier, major repairs in the report can affect the appraisal value of the home for sale in West Bloomfield, Michigan. If the seller lied on the home inspection report, then according to the State Law, he has to cover all the repairs.

The report covers the following areas:

  • Mold
  • Pest Infestation
  • Any damages in the construction or foundation
  • Roof leaks

The report provided by the inspector covers the following things:

  • Repairs in the house
  • How the repairs can be tackled
  • Repair costs

Hiring a Home Inspector

Before hiring a home inspector, ask him the following questions:

  • How much experience do you have in this field (5 years is a good number)
  • Are you licensed?
  • Explain to me your charges?
  • Can I see a sample report?
  • How much time will it take to make the report?
  • Which areas do you check and which ones do you leave out?

Areas Inspected

  • Water pressure
  • Attic leaks
  • Electrical wiring
  • Plumbing
  • Strength of door and window frames
  • Installation of safety features (smoke and carbon monoxide detectors)
  • Fencing
  • Siding
  • Appliances
  • HVAC system
  • Radon
  • Termites
  • Lead paint
  • Asbestos

Negotiating – Preparing the Counteroffer

Once you have the report in your hand, calculate the cost of the repairs and compare it with the house’s value? Is it worth it? By law, the seller is only required to fix anything that:

  • Compromises safety
  • Violates building code
  • Might cause structural defects

Now is the time for you to negotiate. Here, you have two options:

  • Tell the seller to make the repairs (ask for the invoice)
  • Present the seller with a counteroffer, in which you have lowered the house’s price in exchange of you taking care of the repairs

So, there you go… these are the surprises you need to look for when buying a house. This is why, better get the home appraised before the home inspection, so that you are one step ahead. If you want to buy a home for sale in West Bloomfield, Michigan that falls under your budget and has all the features you need, then visit Homes2MoveYou. Get in touch with a real estate agent and start seeing houses in areas of your liking.