What
Really Matters
By
Frank Ross
The home
buying process can be extremely stressful. As a potential buyer,
you will be exposed to a lot of information and a multitude of
issues about which you are to make a decision in a short time. A
home inspection is supposed to give you peace of mind, but in
combination with the seller’s disclosure and what you notice
yourself it often has the opposite effect. The written inspection
report, checklist, photographs, and what the inspector himself says
about the home during the inspection can make the experience
overwhelming. What should you do?
Relax. The
findings in the inspection report may be maintenance
recommendations, estimated life expectancies, informational
observations and some helpful tips. These comments are handy.
However, the issues that will require your attention can be divided
into four main categories:
-
Major defects. An example of this would be a
large section of a floor joist cut out to install bathroom
plumbing.
-
Deferred maintenance or conditions that could
lead to major defects. A loose and leaky toilet, for example.
-
Items that may hamper your ability to obtain
financing, legally occupy or insure the home. Could be for
example if the home only has a temporary electric power pole.
-
Safety hazards, such as missing smoke detectors,
faulty GFCIs, capped off water heater pressure & relief valves.
Anything
falling into these categories should be discussed between the buyer
and their real estate professional. Often a potentially significant
problem can be remedied at very little cost with the result being
greater protection to both life and property (especially in
categories 2 and 4). For example, a missing stairway hand rail, or
faulty GFCI receptacle may not cost much money to install or repair
and may be considered “just a minor thing,” but if someone were to
get hurt or die from an electric shock, then that faulty GFCI
receptacle could cost more than the entire house cost to buy. I
recommend that the buyer consult with their real estate professional
when reviewing the inspection report and then decide what they want
to do about major defects, deferred maintenance items, safety issues
etc.
Many times
homeowners are genuinely surprised to learn of defects uncovered
during an inspection. As a buyer, realize that the inspection
report is not a to-do list for the sellers or the buyers. It is an
evaluation of the home, a tool to help everyone involved to be more
fully aware of the condition of the home. Every home will have
deficiencies of some sort. Keep things in perspective. Use the
inspection report as a guide to make conscious choices about what
you can live with or repair yourself and what is unacceptable to you
and needs correction. Do not walk away from your dream home over
things that do not really matter.
Frank Ross is a Certified Utah Home Inspector for Pillar to Post
Professional Home Inspection and a full member of the National
Association of Certified Home Inspectors. Readers may contact Mr.
Ross at (435) 867-6400 or
frank.ross@pillartopost.com. You can learn more about Pillar To
Post Professional Home Inspection at
www.pillarposthomeinspection.com
