THE INSPECTION PROCESS

The Purchase Contract for your home provides for inspections of the property to inform you on the condition of the home you are buying. A Contract may allow you to have further inspections carried out following a general contractors report and/or to re-negotiate the terms of the sale with the seller, or to withdraw from the deal if your are not satisfied with the inspection reports. Buyer may request seller to make repairs or credit the buyer for some costs, but the seller is not obligated to agree to any such request.

Structural Pest Inspection
A licensed inspector can perform a Structural Pest Control Inspection, or "Termite Report," which will point to other problems like dry rot, beetle damage or other organisms. Problems will be labeled either as Section I conditions -- ones which are causing active damage, or Section II conditions -- which are likely to cause damage if uncorrected. Section I conditions sometimes need to be corrected by a contractor before a loan is secured. The Purchase Contract will specify who is responsible for inspection cost and repairs. This is an important consideration and your real estate agent should advise you on this part of the contract.

General Contractor Inspection/Structural
The Purchase Contract includes language referring to a Physical Inspection, usually performed by a General Contractor and includes a report on the overall condition of the property. The general home inspection covers most visible features of the property and may call for additional specific inspections (i.e. roof or furnace inspections). A Structural Engineer's Inspection may be warranted if structural failures are suspected. Typically, buyers pay for the physical inspections but this is sometimes negotiable. You may also want a soil or Geological Inspection which can be done by a Geological or Geotechnical Engineer. Besides soil conditions, this inspection will determine the stability of the ground underneath and around the home.

Home Warranty Plans
Buyers or sellers can purchase Home Protection Plans to provide additional protection of home conditions or systems. These warranty plans do not cover all items within the home, so do read the small print carefully. Email or call me for further information