Some of my clients ask the question, "Robert, should I have this house inspected prior to the purchase?" And nearly 99% of the time, I answer "yes". During the home purchasing process, the buyer is given an option to have the house inspected by a professional inspector. In most cases, the buyer is given 10 days from the signing of the purchase agreement to inspect a home. Many times the prospective buyer will forgo the inspection to save the approximately $300 fee charged by most inspectors. Moreover, the owner reserves a right to not correct the items found in an inspection, thereby making the potential buyer leery of paying the $300 fee.
There are some horror stories associated with home buyers who relinquished the right to have the inspection conducted. A couple recently purchased a house and chose not to have it professionally inspected. One week later, after moving in, they began to experience drainage problems underneath the slab. A simple inspection of the water drainage system would have revealed the problem. Fortunately, in this case, the sellers were willing to correct the problem. The repairs cost approximately $2500. A potential for a lawsuit was looming had not the sellers agreed to fix the problem. I have witnessed inspectors finding electrical problems, appliances that do not work, as well as faulty light fixtures.
In most cases, the sellers are willing to correct problems prior to the close of the sale. So, I strongly urge that the buyers have an inspection conducted, especially for older homes (those built in the early seventies). Many of these homes have drainage systems constructed with cast iron piping which could deteriorate over time. Even if the owners elect not to make the repairs, the contract allows a buyer to opt out of the purchase of the house. Remember $300 dollars is a small price to pay to avoid the pitfalls of later discovering hidden defects.
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