A Home Inspection is a crucial part of the home buying process.
It can reveal issues that will help the buyer make a more informed decision. The Inspection Report can also sometimes be used to help negotiate repairs / concessions from the seller.
This broken roof truss for example, was a surprise to the seller, but he agreed to pay for repairs.
Sellers said this was an old stain,
but Moisture Meter shows that it is in fact an active leak.
Further investigation revealed a clogged and overflowing A/C drip pan, so luckily the repairs were relatively simple and inexpensive (compared to a roof or plumbing leak, which is what the buyers were thinking).
Skipping a Home Inspection
I would ALWAYS recommend a Home Inspection. But that should be obvious, I’m a Home Inspector. However, I would also contend that anyone offering advice to a buyer (but ESPECIALLY a Realtor) risks liability if they even hint at the idea of skipping a Home Inspection.
Melissa from the National Association of Realtors suggests that Realtors make extra efforts to educate buyers about the risks of contingency waivers. This includes using an addendum to the sales agreement called the “potential adverse consequences acknowledgement” to document their intentions.
Jeff from Bankrate explains that it’s in the buyer’s best interest to have a home inspected before they become the new owner. He suggests that under normal circumstances, you would never want to waive a home inspection. In his article, he briefly touches on risks of waiving a home inspection, explaining that if you [the buyer] skip it, you risk serious issues that could cost you a great deal of money down the line. He offers a unique perspective, suggesting that buyers trying to make their offer more appealing to sellers should waive the contingency, but not the inspection.
Kelsey from Realtor.com explains how she and her husband were exhausted by the home-buying process. She explains some of the risks of waiving a home inspection, why some people do it anyway, and when it might be OK. But in the end, she concludes with Bottom Line: Spending a few hundred dollars on a home inspection is almost always money well-spent.
Even New Construction
During Construction
This tie beam was cut, undermining the structural integrity of the load-bearing beam.
Luckily we were hired to do several inspections throughout the construction process, and this was caught before it was covered by stucco on the outside and drywall on the inside.
End of Construction
That’s right, even new homes have issues. This Infrared Camera shows that the builder forgot to add insulation in the entire attic.
Click the links below for the original articles.
Bankrate > Is it ever smart to waive a home inspection? by Jeff Ostrowski
Realtor.com >Should I Waive a Home Inspection? By Kelsey Ogletree