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Do the Majority of Home Buyers Pay Attention to the Home Inspector's Report?

By
Real Estate Agent with Bill Cherry, Realtor 0124242

 

 

Home Inspector Bud Rozell----->

Home inspections by state licensed inspectors are one of the best additions that have been made to the real estate industry in my lifetime.

 

I personally make it a point to schedule my time where I can be present for 100% of the time an inspector is evaluating the condition of a home one of my clients intends to purchase.

 

It helps me better interpret the report that follows and its nuisances for my client and myself.

 

Probably because for a major part of my career I was a hired expert witness for many plaintiffs who were damaged by a property owner's disregard for safety on his property, I purposely zero in on safety issues.

 

One thing that I find interesting is that often times a seller bought a home where their inspector pointed out many safety deficiencies; however, they never corrected them. 

 

Now that owner is attempting to pass that home and those deficiencies to the next buyer -- my client.

 

So what are some of them? 

 

  • No operable smoke alarms in every bedroom, and other places throughout the house.

 

  • Electrical outlets without grounds, others near sinks and other water supplies without GIF safety breaker outlets.

 

  • Gerrymandered air conditioning equipment and hot water heaters that can easily bring carbon monoxide into the living quarters.

 

I wonder the purpose of home inspections if action isn't required to be taken to resolve the issues reported?

 

BILL CHERRY

Broker-Realtor

Since 1966

Keller Williams Dallas Premier

Direct: 214 503-8563

BillCherryRealtor.com

Comments(9)

Bruce Hicks
Best Homes Hawaii - Honolulu, HI
Your Best Hawaii Realtor!

In our neck of the woods, buyers heavily depend on Home Inspectors or their brother in law who is a contractor BILL CHERRY .  Here, we are advised NOT to go to inspections due to liability.

Jun 13, 2015 06:30 PM
Bill Roberts
Brooks and Dunphy Real Estate - Oceanside, CA
"Baby Boomer" Retirement Planner

Hi Bill Cherry, I always meet with the inspector as well. Plus, I ask the buyer to be present, if possible.

The inspection report is very valuable for getting defects corrected, re-negotiating the price, and preventing lawsuits in the future. This is one of the most critical events during the escrow period.

Bill Roberts

Jun 13, 2015 11:55 PM
Gita Bantwal
RE/MAX Centre Realtors - Warwick, PA
REALTOR,ABR,CRS,SRES,GRI - Bucks County & Philadel

Buyers read the report at the time of inspection and ask the sellers to do the major things but if there are things the inspectors says have to be done later , they just forget about those things.

Jun 14, 2015 09:14 PM
Joe Pryor
The Virtual Real Estate Team - Oklahoma City, OK
REALTOR® - Oklahoma Investment Properties

In Oklahoma there is no requirement for smoke alarms in every bedroom. Since that is not a repair item it would have to be negotiated previous to contract acceptance.

Jun 16, 2015 12:07 PM
Joan Whitebook
BHG The Masiello Group - Nashua, NH
Consumer Focused Real Estate Services

The majority of the buyers I have worked with have had the items corrected.  I have run into a couple of buyer who did not.  It truly makes no sense to me.

Jun 16, 2015 12:33 PM
Frank Rubi
Frank Rubi Real Estate, LLC - Metairie, LA
FrankRubiRealEstate.com

My buyers will usually ask for repairs on major items. Our buyers and agent are very involved in home inspections. 

Jun 16, 2015 10:36 PM
Praful Thakkar
LAER Realty Partners - Burlington, MA
Metro Boston Homes For Sale

BILL CHERRY you are right. When buyers spend money, they should take action on some items.

Sep 30, 2015 01:38 PM
Lottie Kendall
Compass - San Francisco, CA
Helping make your real estate dreams a reality

Hi Bill - in my area seller usually include a home inspection with all the documents prior to hearing offers from buyers. Whenever possible I have buyers get their own inspection, or at least an on-site review with an inspector of their choice. I want them to follow behind the home inspector to understand what is a safety issue, what might be a large expensive item to correct, what is simply cosmetic in nature.

Oct 02, 2015 06:23 AM
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

You could write a long series of blogs on this very important topic. Home buyers need to pay very close attention to the home inspection reports.

Oct 02, 2015 11:17 AM