What Happens After the Home Inspection?
Every home inspection is different. I attend every home inspection for my buyer clients. I want to know what they are being told and hear from the inspector what the problem areas are. After all, when the inspection is 
over, negotiation on items to fix begins between the buyer and the seller. It's a good thing to be able to explain what it is the buyer is asking for and why.
Another misconception fell out of the MY FRIEND TOLD ME chronicles today while at a home inspection. Friends are well meaning, but rarely helpful at a home inspection. There was a professional home inspector already there, but this friend was pointing at things and telling the inspector why they were issues.
The inspector and I exchanged glances over what the friend was injecting into the situation. Fear and misconceptions. I stepped outside to become part of the conversation the friend was having with my client while the inspector was continuing his work. The friend, so graciously referring to me as "Lady," told me that several things needed to be done. And he then turned to his friend and said, "The lady (me) will give the home inspection report to the other agent and the sellers will have 30-45 days to correct everything wrong."
Respectfully, I waited until the friend was gone before addressing how home inspection items are handled. They are negotiated. All properties are now sold AS-IS in Northern Virignia. The seller is not required to make any repairs. If you request repairs in writing and they accept, in writing, you have an agreement as to what is going to be fixed. However, there is no set requirement that everything be fixed, or in what amount of time.
Home inspection items that are agreed to be fixed in writing by both parties should be completed prior to settlement. That is the purpose of the final walk through. The buyer gets a chance to make sure that those items are fixed and to make sure the property is in the same condition that was agreed in writing.
What if the sellers don't want to fix the items the buyer is requesting? Well, the buyer has a choice. Deal with it and move forward, accepting the home as it is or void the contract and find another home. It's pretty cut and dried.
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