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Home buying series, assemble a winning team in New Milford CT, Part 3 - The Inspector

By
Real Estate Agent with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices New England Properties Licensed in Connecticut

The home buying series, assemble a winning team in New Milford, CT, The Inspector (Part 3)

Home InspectionAfter you find the home of your dreams and your offer has been accepted, you will want to have the home inspected. Please understand that calling around to find the cheapest deals will most likely not give you what you need to get from these inspections. Remember, this is the single largest purchase you will make in your lifetime, and having a thorough inspection of your home is crucial to your peace of mind and happiness in the home. Ask your Realtor® for the names of inspectors that have good reputations, that will do what you need done, which is:

  • Find issues with the home
  • Explain how to deal with these issues
  • Teach you about owning the home
  • Make sure the home is safe

There are often more than one inspector involved in the process, especially here in the greater New Milford area as most of the homes have septic systems. The home inspector and the septic inspector. There may even be a separate pest inspector involved in the process. (Certain loan products will require a pest inspection, make sure your Realtor® knows what you will need.)

Key Player #2I tell my buyers that an inspection is not a negotiating tool, it is a guide to a used product (in the case of a resale). Of course if there are structural issues, if pests are found in the home, these things need to be fixed. Sometimes there will be credits issued for items that should be repaired. Telling the seller to pump the septic prior to the sale is certainly on the list, repairing any issues that the septic brought up are important also.

A good inspector will do a thorough inspection of the home, will give you a comprehensive report and answer all your questions or know where you can get those answers.
Make sure you walk with your inspectors, and take notes! Although they will give you a report after, ask questions and write down what they say. They will tell you how to deal with certain things, they will explain what is normal wear and tear, what should be address immediately. If you don't understand something ask ask ask!

If you happen to be buying new construction, please do have the inspections performed. You still need to know that everything was done properly, that the water is potable, that there is no radon, etc.

What are the typical inspections you can expect to have performed?

  • Home Inspection includes: house, from roof to basement, electrical systems, mechanicals, water tests, flow tests, radon, pest
  • Septic Inspection  is CRUCIAL, especially in an older home. The cost to replace a septic system can be staggering.  This will be done by a separate company
  • Pest Inspection may be done by a separate inspector, it depends on the situation.      

I have a list of certified, qualified inspectors I will give to my clients. I trust them to do the job, to do it correctly, to take the time to explain to my buyers about the home and to point out what are potential "deal breakers" if they are not addressed by the seller. After all the reports are back I discuss with my clients what they want from the seller as a result of the findings. I then take this to the sellers agent and we move from there.

In my opinion the inspectors are really the unsung heroes of the home buying process!

If you are in the market to purchase a home in the Greater New Milford CT area and would like more information, please give me a call at 203.460.1775, or send me an emailat andrea@andreaswiedler.com. I will be happy to discuss your options and give you a list of names of PROVEN, WELL QUALIFIED mortgage professionals. And as we progress and find the home of your dreams I will provide you will a list of PROVEN, WELL QUALIFIED home and septic inspectors.

If you missed the first part of the series, check it out here!
Seond installment about the mortgage professional can be seen here.

For any first time home buyer thinking about purchasing their first home, don't wait any longer. You have just enough time to complete the purchase and
claim your $8,000 tax credit. Don't be a "coulda shoulda woulda" person, instead be a "right place at the right time with the right team" type of person!

Homes for sale, greater New Milford CT.

Local area information, New Milford, Washington, Roxbury, Kent, Bridgewater, Sherman and Warren. Why you should be looking for a home here!

© 2009 Andrea Swiedler. Unless otherwise noted, the content, both written and in pictures, is the property of Andrea Swiedler. If you wish to use something you see here, please email me (andrea@andreswiedler.com) with your request. Most likely I will oblige, with a link back to my original content as well as an acknowledgment. Although imitation is the highest form of flattery, please let me know before you decide to bestow this form of flattery on me! Thank you.

Posted by

Andrea Swiedler, Realtor, Southern Litchfield County Real Estate

2017 President, Greater New Milford Board of Realtors

2017 Connecticut Magazine 5 Star Realtor

 

 Search homes for sale in Litchfield County, CT.

 

Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage

Litchfield County Regional Office,375 Danbury Rd, New Milford, CT 06776

 

© Andrea Swiedler 2009 - 2017

 Always do right. This will gratify some people and astonish the rest. - Mark Twain

Comments (13)

Jennifer Fivelsdal
JFIVE Home Realty LLC | 845-758-6842|162 Deer Run Rd Red Hook NY 12571 - Rhinebeck, NY
Mid Hudson Valley real estate connection

Andrea - The home inspection is such an important part of the home buying process.  This is when buyers decide whether to go forward or not.  Working with a good inspector is key, one who will take the time to explain things and educate.  The real estate agent is in a good position to refer inspectors just make sure to refer at least 3 so that the buyer can interview them and make a choice.

Aug 18, 2009 12:00 AM
Richard Weisser
Richard Weisser Realty - Newnan, GA
Richard Weisser Retired Real Estate Professional

Andrea...

This is a wonderful series that is so well written and informative. I'm impressed!

Aug 18, 2009 12:09 AM
Andrea Swiedler
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices New England Properties - New Milford, CT
Realtor, Southern Litchfield County CT

Jennifer, yes indeed, you are so right. It is important for a buyer to understand just how important this process is, skimping on any of these team players is a huge mistake. Not interviewing is a huge mistake. Thank you for your comment!

Aug 18, 2009 12:10 AM
Andrea Swiedler
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices New England Properties - New Milford, CT
Realtor, Southern Litchfield County CT

Richard, you snuck in! Why thank you. I have very strong opinions on the team used to buy a home, very strong, as most of us do.

Aug 18, 2009 12:11 AM
Sharon Lee
Sharon Lee's Virtual Assistance - Jonesborough, TN
Retired and loving life

Good morning Andrea-I am enjoying your series post but I enjoy all your posts. It is well written and informative. Great job my friend. I scanned the posts I missed. Are you going to the fair. I haven't been in years and don't know if they have one around here. I liked your video of the grounds. Nicely done. That was a pretty scary story that Pat wrote and your own was as well. It is scary and sad when you aren't safe when you are just doing your job. My lady boss carries a handgun and whenever she goes anywhere in a out of the way place then she has me go with her. I loved the pic of the barn with the flag. I used to live in a house that had a BIG smiley face painted on it. Don't you love how I catch up. LOL Have a wonderful week my friend. BE SAFE out there. <SMILE>

Aug 18, 2009 02:00 AM
Hannah Williams
HomeStarr Realty - Philadelphia, PA
Expertise NE Philadelphia & Bucks 215-820-3376

Andrea..I like that..so many agents do use a home inspection as a negotiating tool..good series

HelpfulHannah

Aug 18, 2009 02:20 AM
Andrea Swiedler
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices New England Properties - New Milford, CT
Realtor, Southern Litchfield County CT

Sharon, oh oh oh.... you are too funny. I am glad you liked EVERYTHING you saw... Have a wonderful day!

Hannah, hi there. I don't like that attitude. More like a guide to a used product. If there are issues we will discuss, and expect major things to be taken care of. Minor things can be negotiated separately. Just my humble opinion.

Aug 18, 2009 03:09 AM
George Souto
George Souto NMLS #65149 FHA, CHFA, VA Mortgages - Middletown, CT
Your Connecticut Mortgage Expert

Andrea, I have often said when I am meeting with a Borrower, that the money that they will spend on a Home Inspection will probably be the best investment that they will make in the whole process.

And from our end on this, a Home Inspector can either be an asset in holding a deal together, or blow it out of the water.  A Home Inspector that knows how to tell a Buyer what issues a house might have, but yet not send the Buyer out looking for a cliff to jump off of, is invaluable.

Aug 18, 2009 03:39 AM
Charlottesville Solutions
Charlottesville Solutions - Charlottesville, VA

I just read the series!

you have done a great job

your friend in Charlottesville Virginia!

Aug 18, 2009 04:35 AM
James Quarello
JRV Home Inspection Services, LLC - Wallingford, CT
Connecticut Home Inspector

Andrea, I really appreciate your comment;

In my opinion the inspectors are really the unsung heroes of the home buying process!

We are there to protect the buyer, but at the same time keep everything in perspective. George hit it right on money, a good inspector should be able to communicate all the information without sending the client running. They can run after the inspection is over, just not during. LOL

Aug 19, 2009 11:09 PM
Russel Ray, San Diego Business & Marketing Consultant & Photographer
Russel Ray - San Diego State University, CA

Out here I have to deal with cracks. Since this is earthquake country, people are constantly worried about cracks, and when they see one, they want to move to Japan, which has more earthquakes than we do -- LOL.

Aug 26, 2009 10:33 PM
Andrea Swiedler
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices New England Properties - New Milford, CT
Realtor, Southern Litchfield County CT

George, a good home inspector is key, you want them to find defects, to teach the new owner how to deal with the home, and not send them screaming away from it!

Hi Charles, thank you for taking the time to read the whole series! I appreciate your comment on it. :D

Jim, I appreciate your help! And yes, that is exactly it.

Russel, cracks huh? We have cracks from freezing, which can send people crying and whimpering in the corners... but to Japan? LOL.

Aug 27, 2009 12:19 AM
Not a real person
San Diego, CA

I left a surprise for you in my blog this morning. Let me know when you find it. What? You thought I was going to tell you what it is. Ha! Although this comment is a clue.

Happy Saturday!

Aug 06, 2011 03:57 AM