You found your dream home and finally have it under contract, so what’s next? Inspections!
I’ll share with you what’s typical over the next two blog posts, but remember things aren’t always typical in real estate. Today I’ll write about the inspection process and what to expect with plumbing, heating, electrical, roof and structural inspections. Finally what to expect from the repair requests, negotiations and final repairs.
The inspection period is somewhere around two weeks from the time you go under contract. Inspection dates are addressed in the contract. Request the inspections you want right away so your agent knows and can set them up. You can let your agent know who you want to use for an inspector. If you don’t know anyone, then your agent should be able to guide you to someone knowledgeable in the trade. Ultimately it is up to the buyer on who to hire for inspections.
The purpose for inspections is to evaluate the property to make sure you want to buy it. It is the due diligence period. You aren’t buying a new home, so expect some wear and tear. You are looking for things that are defective or major issues. Look at the outline below as a guide for you.
Plumbing inspection will check the home’s faucets, toilets, drains and overall system.
Heating inspection will check the home’s furnace and/or boiler for proper operation and safety.
Electrical inspection will check the wiring, breaker panel and outlet operation.
Roof inspection will determine the condition and insurability. This is important for obtaining insurance with the buyer’s carrier.
Structural inspection looks for cracks in the foundation, walls, possible negative drainage and flooding issues around the foundation.
The inspection process tends to be a stressful time for buyers and sellers, so remember that your agent is here to work for you. I’ll go over more details on what to expect with the negotiation portion and repairs next time. If you are ready to start the home buying or selling process, then give us a call at 307-635-0303 and we’ll help you get started. You can always search homes for sell in Cheyenne at CheyenneHomeStore.com.
