Handling an Imperfect Inspection (Without Freaking Out)
You know how important it is to have a home inspected before buying, right? And that this inspection really should be done by an experienced, licensed professional? Yes? Good.
So, what do you do when the perfect home turns out to be, well, not so perfect? Walk away? Demand that the sellers fix all of the problems? Buy it anyhow?
There’s no definitive answer. It depends on how much is wrong with the home, and how serious those problems are. Unless you are buying a brand new home, there is going to be something wrong with it. Once a home has been lived in, it’s going to start showing signs of wear. And even new homes can have problems.
When you prepare for the home inspection, don’t forget why you are there. You are looking for assurance that the home will not require major repairs in the first few years you own it. Big problems might be enough to walk away from the sale. If the roof is about to cave in, or if there is a serious flaw in the foundation, that’s one thing. Anything that might compromise the safety or health of your family, or any problems that are going to have serious financial repercussion is worth reconsidering the purchase for.
On the other hand, if there is a little bit of mold in the bathroom, a sink leaks, or one of the doors don’t close correctly, it’s not worth giving up the home for. You shouldn’t be on a hunt for perfection.There will be problems; the question is how serious they will be.
There is one way to know for sure: make sure you are there for the inspections. Most inspectors will insist that you’re there with them. If they don’t, you need to be the one who insists. When the inspector points out an issue, ask for more details. They will put it in the report, but the same small problems might look a lot more serious in writing. This protects the inspector from liability issues, in case that small touch of mold on the bathroom wall really is a sign of a much bigger problem.
Inspector on site: Hey, looks like someone forgot to turn on the fan during a few showers. Just clean it off; not a problem.
Inspector in report: 3/4″ area of mold in bathroom. May be a sign of house-wide infestation. Recommended action: Hire a specialist to remove mold, check air quality for potential hazards, and schedule a full home inspection for mold spores.
That’s a big difference, and not much of an exaggeration. The whole report will be full of intimidating recommendations and warnings. That’s why you need to be there, to get an explanation of each issue as it comes up.
An imperfect inspection isn’t a reason to walk away. The older a home is, the longer the list of problems will be. Keep perspective, and get more information if you need it. Before you restart your home search, be sure that the problems are worth leaving the home behind for.