When you are buying a home for the first time, you’re likely to run into many processes that you haven’t been through before. One of the most important parts of the purchasing process is your property inspection. It may seem daunting, but if you know your role and the role of others, it can make the process less stressful. Here is a brief overview of what you should expect for each person involved in the property inspection process.
You should understand that the general inspection is the jumping-off point of the inspection/investigation process. For a smaller property, like a condo or townhouse, you may only do a general inspection. For a house, your general inspector, who has broad knowledge about all systems, might suggest that you bring is specialists for secondary inspections. It is not uncommon to have the following inspections on larger properties: roof, foundation, pool, HVAC, electrical, termite/pest, or plumbing.
The Buyer
A buyer's role will be to learn about the property during the inspection. Before the inspection, you should prepare by looking over the property disclosures (the TDS - Transfer Disclosure Statment, SPQ - Seller Property Questionaire, and the listing agent's AVID - Agent Visual Inspection Disclosure) or any other building department documentation that you’ve received up until that point. Make a list of any questions or concerns you have about those documents and address any issues that the listing agent may have pointed out. Ask your agent what the typical inspections are for your market and make sure you set aside a few hours for the inspection. If you have not received the TDS & SPQ at the time of the inspection, you should ask your agent to press the listing agent for them.
You might not be granted access to the property after the inspection process. Take some time while the inspector is working to take measurements of the property for furniture planning, appliance purchases, or window coverings.
The Buyer’s Agent
Your agent should be with you and help to walk you through the inspection. Your agent should know what to look for during inspections and be able to let you know what is important and needs to be addressed before the transaction is complete and what is a quick fix. A request for repairs is used to address health and safety concerns, things that are revealed in the inspection process, it's not a process for buyers to get cosmetic or system upgrades. Your agent will help walk you through what is and is not customary to address in a request for repairs.
The Listing Agent
In some cases, the listing agent may not be present for the inspection. Occasionally, the listing agent will be there to advocate for the seller and help to address any issues that may arise, as they are likely the most familiar with the property. Their primary job is to communicate the inspection findings to the seller. It is VERY important to remember that the seller's agent has the seller's best interest in mind, not the buyer's. Rely on your own agent for guidance, not the other party's representative.
The Inspector
The buyer will hire the property inspector as the buyer. This is an expense for the buyer to pay for. Buyers can get a referral from their agent to find a licensed inspector in their state. The inspector is there to explain what may need to be changed about a property. They are not there as a contractor and will not be fixing the problems, simply inspecting the property and the overall state of the house. The inspector should go over the findings with the buyer while they are still at the property. The buyer will then receive either a hard copy or a digital copy of the full report.
LUKE ALLEN
Realtor® - SRS - ABR® - ePRO® - PSA - SFR®
Mobile: 310.497.7754
Email: luke.jonathan.allen@gmail.com
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License# 02059886 - Coldwell Banker - 12930 Ventura Blvd. Ste 202, Studio City, CA 91604
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