Buyers

Since buying a house is one of  the largest investments individuals may make, it is essential for those to know exactly what they are buying.  While the home they have chosen might seem to be *the perfect one*, it could have serious defects that are not always apparent to the untrained eye. These unseen defects often lead to costly repairs.  While older homes may have some discrepancies, many new homes may have them as well.

What Really Matters Most!

Buying a home? The process can be stressful. A real estate inspection is supposed to give you peace of mind, but often has the opposite effect. You will be asked to absorb a lot of information in a short amount of time. This often includes a written report, checklist, photographs, environmental reports and what the inspector himself says during the inspection. All this combined with the seller's disclosure and what you've notice yourself makes the experience even more overwhelming.

What should you do?  Relax. Most of your inspection will be maintenance recommendations, life expectancies and minor imperfections. These are nice to know about. However, the issues that really matter most will fall into four categories:

• Major defects.

• Things that lead to major defects.

• Things that may hinder your ability to finance, legally occupy or insure the home.

• Safety hazards,

Anything in these categories should be addressed. Often a serious problem can be corrected inexpensively to protect both life and property.

Most sellers are honest and are often surprised to learn of defects uncovered during an inspection. Realize that sellers are under no obligation to repair everything mentioned in the report. No home is perfect. Keep things in perspective. Do not kill your deal over things that do not matter. It is inappropriate to demand that a seller address deferred maintenance, conditions already listed on the seller's disclosure or nit-picky items.

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