How to Get Through the Home Inspection

At every inspection, there are interests at stake for buyers and sellers alike.

Once the buyer has made the offer, and you have accepted it, your home will be reviewed by the home inspector the buyer hires. The inspection is usually a contingency of the offer, meaning the buyer can withdraw the offer if serious problems are discovered. The credit institution will also be aware of the result of the inspection to ensure that it is making a good investment. It makes sense, right?

During the inspection, the inspector will examine the property for defects. Based on the result of the inspector's report, the buyer will give you a list of repair requests. Your agent will then see with you the best way to negotiate those orders. Don't want to deal with a repair? (Perhaps it is better this way, if the buyer has his own contractor who can handle it.) In return, your agent can negotiate with the buyer for some type of price reduction.

What a Home Inspection Covers…Depends on the Home

Every home is different and therefore what is checked during an inspection may vary.

But in general, inspectors pay attention to the following areas during a basic inspection:

• Plumbing systems

• Electric systems

• Kitchen appliances

• Heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) equipment

• Doors and windows

• Attic insulation

• Foundations and basement

• Exterior (eg, siding, paint, exterior light fixtures)

• Land

Depending on what the sales contract says, the purchase may also be contingent on a roof, radon, or termite inspection.

What an inspection does not cover is the invisible. The inspector is not going to break walls or climb on the roof.

Entonces, ¿qué tengo que reparar?

Un informe de inspección no es de ninguna manera una lista de cosas que debes hacer. Muchas reparaciones, incluidos los problemas estéticos y el desgaste normal, son negociables.

Sin embargo, hay tres tipos de reparaciones que en ocasiones se superponen y que los vendedores suelen tener que afrontar después de una inspección:

1. Defectos estructurales. Se trata de cualquier daño de los elementos portantes de una casa: grietas en los cimientos, daños en la estructura del techo y pisos de madera en mal estado.

2. Problemas de seguridad. Las casas en venta deben cumplir con ciertos estándares de seguridad. Dependiendo de dónde vivas, los problemas de seguridad que, como vendedor, podrías tener que abordar incluyen, entre otros, la presencia de moho y la existencia de plagas o de algún cableado eléctrico expuesto.

3. Infracciones al código de construcción. El vendedor debe abordar las infracciones al código de construcción, como la ausencia de detectores de humo, el uso de materiales en los techos que no tengan retardantes de llama y el uso de pinturas con plomo después de 1978.

Estee Soto

Estee Soto is a real estate agent with eXp Realty, a certified mentor and eXp Latino ambassador, and the CEO and founder of TagCrush LLC, an all-in-one digital marketing platform for real estate agents. She leads the TAGHOMES team, specializing in luxury properties, new developments, and international buyers across Florida.

More information about Estee Soto HERE