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My husband and I had our home inspection yesteday.

Can you tell me what kind of things we can have the seller fix before we buy the home?

The inspection showed that we have to get trees trimmed that are touching the roof, some electrical work done-there are loose live wires in the basement...things of that nature.

I was assuming that we can only have the seller fix major things ie. a bad roof...

Thanks!!!!!

Samantha · Posted: Tue Jul 18, 2006 11:20 am Post subject: Home Inspection

Hi Kim,

Welcome to MortgageFit Forums.

I wish you get a nice experience with your new home. Yes, you have pointed out a crucial part during a home purchase. Did you hire a professional home inspector? My personal advice would be to hire a professional as in spite of taking care, there are things which may be over looked by us.

These professionals are experienced to this process and know where there are chances of problems. But do take care that the home inspector is a good one as I have seen a lot buyers complaining about the house about problems after they have purchased it. Things were over looked at the time of inspection.

I can give you some general tips where you must give special attention. There can be a number of things more to be checked -

Basements, Crawlspaces and drainage - Check the walls, floors and crawl spaces for dampness. Inspectors normally use a meter to determine the amount of moisture present. Make sure that the gutters are clean and there are no chances of water spilling over during rainfall. The drainage system should be proper.

Roofs and Chimneys - You mentioned about the roofs. Make sure that the roofs don't require repairs and are strong. The base of the chimney should be watertight and the mortar and bricks should be in good condition.

Plumbing Problems - Check for leaks in toilets and other pipelines and taps in the house.

Electrical Systems - The electrical panel and circuit breaker of the total house should be working well.

These are major areas to look into. Besides, you may ask for repairs and cleanliness of the house where ever you feel is required. As a buyer you can always put forward your claims. The seller has the interest to sell the house and he will do so far your demands are reasonable. So don't hesitate to ask anything which you feel is not proper. You are going to buy and use it after all.

Wish you and your family a happy life in your new home.

God bless you.

For MortgageFit,
Samantha

jameshogg · Posted: Tue Jul 18, 2006 12:48 pm Post subject:

Hi,

I agree with Samantha that you must do the home inspection under a professional home inspector but you and your husband must also be present at the time of the inpection. This will enable you to have a greater insight on the condition of the home. It's always better to have the inspection done during daylight hours.

Be encouraged to ask questions as that will allow you to be fully informed about the home and you will feel confident about your decisions. Make sure to get a detailed written report as well as a checklist in your home inspection report.

A professional home inspection must include:

Structural and Foundation
General Construction overall
Plumbing
Electrical
Heating and cooling
Roof
Windows and doors
Kitchen and bathroom
Appliances
Interior walls and ceiling
Air conditioning
Basement
Ventilation and drainage
Gutters and leaders
Garages and carports
Patios and decks
Walks and driveways
Lawn sprinklers
Pools and spas
Termites and Wood Destroying Organisms (WDO) performed by a licensed pest control company.

Personally Check for:

Apparent cracks or shifts in the foundation
Overall condition and age of roof
Evidence of leaks, inside and outside
Basement or crawlspace for dampness and insulation
Interior structure of attic
Obvious electrical malfunctions
Appliance conditions and age
Heating/Cooling performance
Exterior paint or repairs needed

Wish you good Luck!

James

jveenstra · Posted: Wed Nov 04, 2009 10:38 am Post subject: Home Inspection

You may "request" the seller to fix anything you feel like requesting. Usually this is done by your attorney sending a letter to the seller's attorney requesting that items be "fixed".

It then becomes a negotiation process. They agree to some or all or none of your requests. You agree or disagree. If they fix everything requested you are happy and done. If they balk or refuse, you have to decide what to do.

If your purchase contract states that you are buying the property subject to satisfactory home inspection, you have some negotiating power to require the seller to fix things. In this case, they agree or disagree. If they disagree, you can back out of buying the house, which, you probably do not want to do, but, that is your negotiating power. If they refuse, you fix yourself or back out.

If your purchase contract does note such a stipulation, you may not have much negotiating power to get the seller to fix things.

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