If you’re like many people, your REALTOR® has talked to you about having a home inspection done before you sign the dotted line as a buyer – but what if the seller wants you to waive your right to an inspection? Should you do it, or should you forge ahead, hire an inspector and get it over with?

Here’s what you need to know.

Should You Waive a Home Inspection?

Buying a home is exhausting – there’s a lot that goes into it, and it all starts the first time you open your laptop and start scrolling through online listings of houses in your price range. By the time the inspection rolls around, you’re most likely tired of dealing with all of it; you just want to pack up, move in, unpack and get settled into your new space, putting it all behind you.

But you should almost never waive your right to a home inspection.

Here’s why:

Here’s a closer look at each reason to help solidify your decision.

#1. The inspection serves as your only look at the “bones” of a house – it’s like an X-ray that you need to make sure everything is running smoothly.

Home inspectors check more than 2,000 items when they go through a house (which is why a good inspection takes at least a few hours). Inspectors are looking at things like:

As your inspector checks all those things, what he or she is really looking for is functionality. And while it may sound surprising, even brand-new homes rarely ever have completely clean inspection reports.

Unless you’re a home inspector or a general contractor with a lot of familiarity about how homes and their systems work, this is as close as you’re going to get to finding out everything you need to know before making one of the biggest decisions of your life.

#2. It gives you peace of mind before you sign a contract.

Your inspection report will show you what’s working, what’s not, and in some cases, even what’s about to break. You’ll know about all the home’s major systems so you can decide whether you should make the purchase as-is or ask the seller for repairs or concessions.

#3. It may give you bargaining chips you can work with when you’re negotiating the deal with the seller.

When a home inspection comes back with issues, you can do one of three things. You can walk away from the deal, provided that your purchase contract has a home inspection contingency in it; you can ask the seller to make repairs for you; or you can ask the seller to lower the price or make other concessions so you can afford to make the repairs yourself.

You always want to use the inspection report to your advantage. For example, you can tell the seller you’d like to have certain repairs made or, if your REALTOR advises it, that you’d like a credit so you can choose a contractor and pay for the repairs yourself.

Are You Buying a Home in Knoxville?

If you’re ready to buy a home in Knoxville, I’ll help you find one that’s perfect for your needs. Call me at 865-368-5150 now and let’s talk!

 

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