The Texas "option fee" clause and your home inspections!

This post is about that period of time where you do your home inspections.  I have lived in four states and each state has handled the home inspection process in a different manner.  In Texas all residential contracts have an "option fee" clause. This clause allows buyers and sellers to negotiate a specified time during which the buyer can fully evaluate the house.  For this right, they buyer pays the seller a nonrefundable "option fee".  So let's say you have finished negotiations everything is signed and you are under contract.

You are now going to be in your option period.  Everything is negotiable but usually you will have put $50 to $100 down for a 5 to 10 day option period.  This period gives you the time to do your home inspections.  When doing inspections time is of the essence.

You will need to quickly find an inspector to inspect the home.  Typically your real estate agent will have a list of inspectors they have used or you might know someone yourself.  Most people only think of one or two questions to ask a home inspector.  The most common being "How much is your fee" and "When you can inspect the home".  Below I am including a list of additional questions you might ask.

• The State of Texas does require testing and licensing of inspectors.  Ask them about their training and what kind of license they have.  
• Ask them how long they have been licensed in the state of Texas. 
• Make sure they are a full time home inspector.  I have found there are a lot of inspectors who dabble and you want someone who is making home inspections their career.   There are lots of codes they need to stay current on.
• Ask them if they also perform repairs? (If the answer is yes this may be a conflict of interest). 
• What will the inspection include?  (It should include heating, A/C systems, electrical, interior plumbing, visible insulation, visual roof, walls, ceilings, floors, windows, doors, foundation and the visible structure of the home.
• Ask them if they charge extra based on the size of the home.  I have found that most inspectors have different price breaks according to the square footage of the home.
• Find out how much they will charge if you ask for a re-inspection after the repairs are completed.
• Be sure you can attend the inspection.  This is your time to learn about your new home and ask questions.  If the inspector does not want you following him around I would suggest finding a different inspector.
• Be sure that they don't mind you calling with additional questions after the inspection. 
• Ask for references.  Get names and phone numbers of people they have recently inspected homes for.
• Make sure you are getting a written report in a timely manner. They may give you the report at the inspection or they may want to email it to you the following morning.   Either method is acceptable.  Just remember that time is of the essence.
• If you have a particular concern about the property, be sure to ask if it will be covered in the inspection.

The inspector may not inspect swimming pools, wells, septic tanks, wood destroying insects or other environmental test.  You will likely need to arrange for those inspections separately.  Sometimes the home inspector will have developed a relationship with a termite inspector and can schedule that inspection for you.  You will need to discuss that at the time you set the appointment.  If not you will need to set the termite inspection yourself.  I have heard the saying that there are two types of homes in Texas one that has termites and one that is going to get them.  What I am saying here is don't freak out if you find termites they are very common and treatment is fairly easy.  I have seen brand new construction where they have found termites.

The primary purpose of the inspection is to educate you so you can make an informed purchasing decision.  If you are buying a re-sale home I can almost guarantee you that the inspector will find something; that is what you are paying them for.  The big ticket items you will want to keep in mind are the foundation, the heat/air and the roof; almost everything else is small stuff. 

Should you find something that needs to be repaired during the inspections you can either ask for repairs or negotiate an agreed upon price so that you can do the repairs yourselves.

If the repairs are more than what you want to do, or maybe you just got cold feet, you can back out for any reason during this option period and the only money you will lose is the money you put down for the option and the cost of your inspection. The earnest money will be returned to you in full as long as you provide the owner a termination letter in the agreed upon days.  Again time is of the essence!