The “Really Matters” & You when buying a Home

Buying a home? The process can be stressful.  Your realtor showed you this particular home for a good reason. Now, you want to know more about it.   A home inspection is supposed add to your confidence but often has the opposite effect. You will be asked to consider a lot of information in a short time. The information comes   from many sources of data that often include pre-inspection disclosures, reports, checklists, photographs, and verbal presentations. All of this information and your knowledge combined with the seller's disclosures can make the experience overwhelming. What can you do?

Give yourself a break and remember an inspection is mostly maintenance recommendations and minor imperfections. These are beneficial to know about, however, the important issues will show in one of four categories:

1. Major breaches in structural integrity; for instance, when a roof has been replaced with a roof made of heavy materials without added supports.

2. Minor issues that can lead to major failure, a small roof-to-flashing leak for example.

3. Poorly supported environmental systems that can bust the budget. A good example of this is inadequate attic insulation and it is often discovered in brand new homes.

4. Safety hazards, such as reverse polarity electrical outlets that can easily shock users or short-out appliances.

Findings in these categories should be addressed to protect both life and property.  Fortunately, as described in number 2 or 4, serious problems can often be averted by completing an inexpensive repair.

Although some sellers will mask defects, most sellers are honest and are surprised to learn of the issues and comments documented during an inspection. Also, an inspection is an assessment of a home in a specific “snapshot in time” wherein all malfunctions cannot be found. No home is perfect and all homes will develop maintenance issues. The sellers are under no obligation to repair everything mentioned in a report or you may want to complete repairs yourself.

So, what do you do? We recommend that you keep in mind the whole situation, remember the things that attracted you to this home, and maintain the information from your perspective.  Use the inspection information as an education about this home to turn your viewpoint into a vantage point.  We advocate that you figure out what really matters to you and communicate through issues and comments for the life of the deal.

Julie Setzer, Professional Inspector, TREC 9736
David Setzer, Professional Inspector, TREC 9735
Serving the DFW area

Inspection Edge, Inc.
2131 N. Collins St, Ste. 433, #400,Arlington, TX, 76011
(817) 265-7700 Fax (817) 861-9599
eieihome@inspectionedge.com
Your "edge" for Home Information