A home inspection is typically part of the home buying process. While a home inspection is not a requirement for buyers, almost all buyers will complete a home inspection in Virginia. Why? A home inspection gives the buyers an opportunity to take a closer look at a home and learn more about its condition.
Why do a home inspection?
Buyers will complete a home inspection so they can learn more about the condition of a home in Locust Grove before purchasing it. There are some issues a home might have that may not be apparent when you are doing a walk through of a home. For example, a leaking pipe under the kitchen sink or a faulty fuse in the electrical box may not be easily spotted at first, but they are issues that need to be addressed.
Who does a home inspection? How long does it take?
The buyers will hire an independent certified home inspector. A home inspection usually takes at least two hours, but it can take longer depending on the size of the home in Locust Grove.
When does a home inspection happen?
A home inspection happens shortly after the buyers and sellers come to an agreement on the sale of the home. In every contract, a specific timeline for when the home inspection needs to be completed will be included. It is usually somewhere between seven to fourteen days after the ratified contract. Since buyers and sellers can negotiate on any repairs that the home in Locust Grove needs, completing the home inspection soon after signing the contract gives more time for the repairs to be completed.
What happens during a home inspection?
Your Realtor® will coordinate a time to meet with the home inspector at the home in Locust Grove. The buyers should also attend the home inspection. The sellers should not be present. The home inspector will go through each room in the home. The home inspector will look for signs of anything concerning, like water damage, check the HVAC, electrical, and plumbing systems of the home, and the foundation.
The home inspector will talk about any concerns seen during the inspection and will take photographs or videos to include in the final report. The buyers will receive the report a few days after the inspection takes place.
Does finding issues with a home during a home inspection mean I shouldn’t purchase it?
No! The job of the home inspector is to find any concerns with the home. No home is perfect, so a home inspector can always find things in a home that make it on the report. However, this doesn’t always mean that the home is in poor condition. For example, the home inspector may identify that a GFCI outlet isn’t working. While these are important outlets in a home in Locust Grove, they are also a quick fix.
What happens if the home inspection finds something majorly wrong with the home?
Sometimes home inspections can find problems with a home that are bigger than anticipated. In that case, the home inspector may recommend having a specialist come to the home to further investigate the issue and make any repair recommendations. For example, if a home inspector finds some concerning cracks on the foundation of the home in Locust Grove, the inspector may recommend having a foundation company further inspect the home.
When this happens, buyers and sellers may work together to negotiate a solution to the issue. However, if they cannot come to an agreement or if the buyer does not feel comfortable with the condition of the home, the buyer can exit the purchase contract as long as it is done within the home inspection guidelines set forth in the contract.
Does the seller have to fix the items on the home inspection report?
No! The seller is under no obligation to fix all of the items on a home inspection report. As a buyer, your Realtor® will suggest that you select a few things from the list to request the seller to repair. Safety concerns or issues that would prevent a mortgage company from issuing a loan are often top priority items that a seller will be willing to repair. The home inspection repair request list can be negotiated among sellers and buyers until an agreement is reached.
What if a seller doesn’t want to repair anything?
If the seller and buyer can’t come to an agreement about what will or won’t be repaired within the home inspection contingency period, then the buyers can exit from the contract. This means that the sellers will have to put the home in Locust Grove back on the market.
