You’ve decided to have the home you put a contract on inspected. Now, you may be wondering, “What is needed to pass a home inspection?”
The short answer is nothing. Nothing at all.
No Such Thing as Pass or Fail
You see, there is no pass or fail when it comes to home inspections. The purpose of a home inspection is to provide an assessment of the current condition of the property. Plain and simple. There is no score or rating system. It’s all about obtaining factual information.
Previously, we discussed what’s included in the inspection. It’s up to you to take that information and use it as a tool to make a decision about the home. You decide what passes and what fails.
Using Home Inspection Results
I recently inspected a large 120-year-old home my niece was interested in purchasing. The original coal furnace had been replaced over the years and the current heating/cooling system was 30 years old, well past its life expectancy. After the inspection, she went back to the seller and asked them to either replace the heating/cooling system or reduce the price to cover that cost. The seller refused to make the adjustment, so my niece withdrew her offer to purchase the home. There was no animosity, it was purely a financial decision for each the buyer and seller.
Falling in Love Can Be a Problem
The problem is, often the buyer falls in love with the home when he/she sees it. Especially after seeing the listing online. There are the right number of bedrooms. The floor plan is perfect. There’s a walk-in refrigerator, or six burner stove with a double oven in the large kitchen. Maybe it’s the game room, or a luxurious master bath.
Hey, I get it. We all have our hot buttons. I fell in love with the last home I purchased and decided to make a few concessions I wouldn’t normally make. Remember, the purpose of the inspection is to help you make an informed decision. You decide what concessions you are willing to make to get that home of your dreams.
In the case of my niece, she decided there were too many other things that needed to be fixed in the 120-year-old house on which she had made an offer. She wasn’t willing to spend money on those things and the heating/cooling system. She knew her comfort level and was not willing to bear the cost of replacing the heating/cooling system.
In my case, I really wanted the walk-in fridge and the indoor-outdoor pond. I knew the drainage around the foundation of the house wasn’t the best, but I was willing to take on the cost of making those repairs.
Weigh the Pros and Cons
On the one hand, painting a room is relatively inexpensive. On the other, replacing electrical wiring can be costly and time consuming. You need to decide ahead of time which boxes you need to have checked off the list to determine if the property will pass a home inspection or fail. A professional home inspection will help you to make an informed decision when you purchase a home.
Can You Identify Potential Problems?
By knowing where potential problems lurk, you can do your own home pre-inspection and avoid making offers on a home with problems. This will save you both time and money during your home search. When you think you have found the right home, that’s the time to make your offer and schedule a professional home inspection.
Not sure what problems to look for? Our free list of common problems found during home inspections is a great place to start.
Considering a House with a Metal Roof?
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Asphalt Shingle Roofs
When considering a house to purchase, always ask, “When was the roof last replaced?” A typical asphalt shingle roof lasts 15 to 20 years. Don’t let the fact that the owner says they used shingles that are guaranteed to last 40 years influence you.
You Need to Be Prepared in a Competitive Housing Market
Headlines are screaming “It’s a competitive housing market!” What does that mean for you? How does it effect your search for a house?
What Should I Do During a Home Inspection?
You’ve found the house, and the inspection is scheduled. Now you may be wondering “What should I do during the home inspection?”
What’s Included in a Home Inspection?
As we established previously, a home inspection is simply to provide an assessment of the current condition of the property. There are numerous components of a house, not all of which are visible. But a good home inspector knows where to look to find clues which will assist in the final assessment. The following is a brief overview of what’s included in a home inspection.
Is a Home Inspection Necessary Before Buying a House?
Let’s face it. Buying a home is, most likely, the largest expense you will ever make in your life. This should be the time you want to make the best possible decision and the only way you can do that is to make an informed decision. The best way to make an informed decision is to have the home you wish to purchase inspected by a professional.