I was shocked. Some days on home inspection days you fret a little because you just know there are issues but yesterday I didn’t even squirm.
The house was built in 2005 and appeared “solid”.
Until the Home inspector turned on the water and everything (except the bathroom sinks) started leaking like a sieve. Including toilets. Including a hose bib. Including pipes in walls. Including the roof (well turning the water on didn’t cause that one!) Including the kitchen sink.
Here is the moral of the story for any buyer in any state: GET A HOME INSPECTION!
I always recommend one and I always leave it up to the buyer to decide if they can live with the “issues” especially in these “as-is” homes sold these days.
Even if you think the home is “solid”.
Especially if it is a “newer” home. Newer homes here that were sold at the height have issues because they were slapped up by builders and maybe bought by “investors” who rented them out and didn’t turn in minor issues to warranty – because the renters never told them – then they became bigger issues later. Especially after a home sits vacant in the elements without utilities.
Definitely if it is a “distressed” property with deferred maintenance.
I think the fee is a small price to pay to alert you to potential disaster in the future and hopefully you have a home inspection contingency to get you out of your contract in the event things go horribly wrong.
Even if you lose that inspection fee & end up walking away from that home – you may find yourself saving loads of money in the long run.
Your advice is extremely important to really providing your buyers with some assurance that are not major issues that may come up after the transaction is completed.
My first three years in Real Estate I was always present during the Home Inspection for the last two years I haven’t been to one. Do you always attend your home inspections?
I do attend them Greg! Thanks for your comment!
I did that once,I bought the house without having the house inspection done. The saler's agent said I can do it on my own just walking through the house.Everything was fine for about a year and then things started to fall apart,so next time I'll buy a house I'll have the house inspection done. I've learned my lesson.
Very tough lesson to learn Eva!