Colonial Home Inspections Process
Relax. Let me guide you through the course of this inspection. I encourage you to come along as we inspect your new home. Get to know your new house and its systems from the ground up. I’ll explain what I see as we go along. Most of your inspection will be maintenance recommendations, life expectancy for various systems and components, and minor imperfections. These are useful to know about, however, the issues that really matter will fall into four categories:
- Major Defects. An example of this would be a structural failure
- Things that lead to major defects, such as a small roof-flashing leak, for example
- Things that may hinder your ability to finance, legally occupy, or insure the home
- Safety hazards, such as an exposed, live buss bar at the electrical panel
Anything in these categories should be addressed. Often, a serious problem can be corrected inexpensively to protect both life and property (especially in categories 2 and 4).
Shouldn’t the seller have told me about any problems in their house?
Most sellers are honest and are often surprised to learn of defects uncovered during an inspection. Realize that sellers are under no obligation to repair everything mentioned in the report. No home is perfect. Keep things in perspective. Do not kill your deal over things that do not matter. It is inappropriate to demand that a seller address deferred maintenance, conditions already listed on the seller’s disclosure, or nit-picky items.
From What Really Matters in a Home Inspection – InterNACHIhttp://www.nachi.org/what_really_matters.htm#ixzz31kRb2ndg
