The Home Inspection! Relax It's not that scary.

photo courtesy of www.examiner.com



One of the most frightening things for a home buyer can be the home inspection.  Words like mold spores, moisture damage, standing water, and structural problems can terrify a buyer so badly that they are ready to back out of buying the home of their dreams.  In most cases the inspection is no where near as bad as it seems.

The fact that mold spores have appeared under your home and on your inspection report shouldn't send you running for the hills.  During the summer there is a pretty good possibility that you may have some mold under your home. This is due to the high levels of humidity and possibly some standing water.  In most cases this is not a problem and can be resolved.  If you can put a stop to the humidity or water source, you can stop the mold.  It is important that you as the home buyer speak with the home inspector to get his opinion of the severity of the issue.  It is also important to speak with a mold removal expert to find out how big of a problem this is.  Many times you may be able to install dehumidifiers under the house or ad french drains to prevent the issue at hand.

My mold example is just one of many.  The point is that almost everything can be fixed and is not as bad as it appears. If you have major concerns about certain issues on the report you should always consult with a general contractor or a specialist.  For example: If there is an issue with the heating and air system then you should seek guidance from a heating and air specialist.  It should also be noted that a "whole house" home inspector does not inspect everything.  If the house you are buying has a swimming pool then you should have a pool inspector take a look at it.  If you want a more thorough investigation of the heating and air system then you should have a heating and air company take a look at it.

Whatever issues do come up......relax...... take a deep breath.... and scream at your realtor!! Just kidding please don't do that.  Instead have the proper people inspect your concerns and see what the seller is willing to have fixed for you.  Your realtor will be able to negotiate repairs for you and many times may be able to have everything fixed for you.  This brings up another point.  If you are selling your house it is wise to have a pre-market home inspection.  That way you are not blindsided when the buyer asks for you to repair everything on the report after you have already negotiated down to your bottom line.  By having a pre-market inspection you can either go ahead and fix the problems your home has or at least have that knowledge when negotiating the price on your home.