Home Inspections “Think Outside the Box”

For as long as I can remember purchasing real-estate was always handled the same way.  Let me give an example.  You feel like you have seen 100 homes and finally you find the one you want.   Now the game starts.  The realtor tells you make an offer.   Let’s say just to make this story a little shorter the home owner accepts it.  Great, now what?   Get a lawyer, the realtor tells you.   So to make dollars amounts simple you find one for $1000.   A few weeks later the lawyer is finished, you’re out of attorney review!  Now you’re told to get your inspections, and as not to waste your time you’re advised to get them all done on the same day.   Let’s push this example to the limit with inspections and make the dollars simple to add.   Home inspection $500.  Septic inspection $500.   Well and water testing $500.  Built –in pool inspection $500.  Oil tank testing $500.  A one day total of $2500.   So now let’s throw a little problem into the mix.  The home inspector gives you the news he found a deal breaker.  The house is infested with termites.  You find out it will cost approximately $20,000 to fix everything.   Your realtor talks to the other realtor, who talks to the owner.   The owner states no way am I picking up the bill, the house is being sold “as is condition”.   The deal falls through.  You just spent a grand total of $3500 to find out you’re not buying the house.

Let’s think outside the box this time.  You finally find the house you want.   The realtor tells you make an offer.   NO, stop!  You’re going to get a home inspection first.  Why?  Because you what to know what condition the house is in before an offer is made so you can make an educated decision.   So now the game starts.  Home inspection $500.  The home inspector gives you the news he found a deal breaker.   The house is infested with termites.  You find out it will cost approximately $20,000 to fix everything.   Your realtor talks to the other realtor who talks to the owner.   The owner states no way am I picking up the bill, the house is being sold “as is condition”.   The deal falls through.   You just spent a grand total of $500 to find out you’re not buying the house.

Which scenario do you like?  There will be resistance for thinking outside the box don’t be mistaken.  But I look at it this way.  The $3000 saved is still in your pocket.   What did your home inspector do for you lately?   Show you a picture of an electrical panel.