Using The Report

You now have a better picture of the house you are buying and its overall condition. The report's findings may have come as a complete surprise. The house that appeared to be perfect appears to have issues that need to be addressed.  You are now unsure what your next move should be.

Don't worry!

1) Make a list of the problems noted in the report that you would like to have addressed. Your Realtor may inform you that certain problems on your list will be hard to convince the seller to repair.

2) The offer you made was subject to a Home Inspection by a professional Inspector. This offer holds the seller responsible to make good only those defects in the home that relate to habitability and safety or to items stipulated in Inspection Addendum.

3) There are instances in the report where it is noted that an item needs immediate repair or replacement although it does not relate to habitability or safety. In this case this would be the buyers responsibility and our recommendation would be to repair or replace as soon as possible. Often these would be routine maintenance items.

4) The list of repairs you want completed by the homeowner must be given to your Realtor within the Inspection period.

5) Your Realtor must get the post Inspection Addendum back to the seller's Realtor within the time frame allowed for the inspection.

6) The post Inspection Addendum is in essence a counter offer that you make to the seller asking for certain items to be repaired or replaced before you buy the house.

7) Remember the document you signed when you made your offer, the Inspection Addendum did not give you the right to have the house rebuilt.

8) We recommend that all repairs are completed by a contractor or a licensed professional.

9) Before closing you should return to the house and verify that all the repair work has been satisfactorily completed, that the house is clean, trash removed and ready for occupancy.

10) Receipts for the repair work should be given to you, proving that the work has been professionally completed.

After the Inspection we are here to help you and your Realtor if you have any problem understanding or interpreting the Inspection report. If you need advice we are only a phone call away and are happy to answer any questions.

Bottom Line...
If the problems are of a serious nature and affect the habitability or the safety of the house and the sellers refuse to do anything to correct them or make concessions to you, you may have the right to break the contract. This will be a hard decision for you to make, particularly when you realize how much money you have invested in the various Inspections and professional fees.

... it is much better to find out about the house before you buy it rather than after you have moved in.

If there is anything you want the seller to repair or replace as a result of the Home Inspection, a Post Inspection Agreement will need to be completed by you or your real estate agent. 

We recommend that you do a final walk through of the property the day before closing to make sure that the house is in the condition that it is supposed to be in, and that any appliances or fixtures that are included in the sale are still in the house.

All trash and should have been removed by the owner at this time.

If there is any problem this will be your last opportunity to rectify the situation before you own the property.