Bob Kutschbach, owner and broker of Carleton Realty, talks about the home inspection and what happens after.
We strongly recommend that buyers have a home inspection. There is a standard clause in our contract that the buyer hereby requests so many days, usually 7 to 10 days, for inspections. There are many inspections that may take place during this time, depending on the property in question: home inspection, termite inspection, gas line inspection, mold inspection, well and septic inspection, and sometimes a confirmation of insurance making sure that the home is insurable. It is up to the buyer to determine which inspections they need. It is important to hire competent licensed professionals.
Once the inspections are done there will be an opportunity to ask for repairs. In real estate, it is called a request to remedy. The buyer will tell the agent what conditions are unsatisfactory in the buyer’s opinion. The agent will write the request to remedy explaining what the buyer would like fixed before closing. Sometimes they request money to be set aside for repairs if the weather is not cooperating. It is essential to be as specific as possible as to what is unsatisfactory and how they would like it to be repaired. The agent and the home inspection can advise the buyer on their options. The request to remedy must be completed on time and then the parties involved can negotiate. The seller may not want to fix everything that the buyer wants to be fixed. It is unreasonable to expect that an older home will be perfect and up to all current codes. This is one of the reasons that older homes are more affordable in the real estate market. Inspections are done to make sure that the home is safe and secure.
Another thing to discuss is repairs. Sometimes a homeowner does a repair on a home and expects that the home will be worth more. Routine maintenance does not add extra value to a home.
If you have questions about home inspections or the request to remedies please ask one of our agents!
