Getting your home inspection report might be the scariest part of the real estate transaction.
Deep breath – remember that no house is perfect and what you are feeling is totally normal.
Here are a few tips and reminders as you read your home inspection report.
Read the whole report
Reading the whole report maximizes what you paid for. It gives you the whole picture and leaves no surprises.
If you cannot read the full report, at the very least make sure you’re carefully reading the entire summary.
Remember – it is your responsibility as a homeowner to learn about your future home. Put the time in to learn about the major systems & components.
Focus on the major items
It will be tempting to ask for the medium and minor items on the report, but this is a fool’s errand in most cases.
Most markets are seller’s markets. Meaning you will not get the seller to pay for much with how few homes are for sale.
***Focus on the most important health and safety items and negotiate for those.***
Research & ask opinions
It is normal to not know what X repair or Y maintenance will cost.
Utilize your agent, home inspector and Dr. Google to help you learn about the typical cost and effort involved in common home inspection findings.
You can do this
Owning a home is a long-term game.
Try to resist the feeling that you must fix everything before moving in.
Most of the items on a home inspection report you can live with. You will gradually upgrade over time and prioritize.
