24 April Did You Skip Your Buyer’s Inspection? April 24, 2023 By sma Home Inspection, Home Maintenance, Safety mold, new homeowner, radon, real estate 0 DID YOU SKIP YOUR BUYER'S INSPECTION? April 24, 2023 | Home Inspection, Safety, Home Maintenance | new homeowner, real estate, mold, radon In competitive housing markets where availability is low and sellers seem to have all of the leverage, buyers sometimes feel the need to compromise in order to find a home that fits their needs. As this dynamic combines with tough economic times or financial strain, many homeowners in search of an answer to these issues have opted to skip their buyer’s inspection altogether. A home inspection is the only way for owners to get the full picture of their home’s condition. Without this professional assessment, homeowners are playing a dangerous game, as minor issues can escalate into major expenses down the road. If conditions forced you to skip your buyer’s inspection and you are searching for options, look no further! In this article, we outline the best steps for homeowners who missed their home inspection. Why Do People Skip Their Buyer’s Inspection? For those who are aware of the value that a home inspection brings during a home-purchasing negotiation, the thought of bypassing it altogether can seem surprising. With that said, some people have opted to go this route for a number of reasons. According to an article published by Forbes, 85% of Americans opted to sidestep a number of essential home-purchasing steps (including insurance, warranties, and home inspections) in order to save on overall costs and to avoid the seller accepting other offers. While this route will accelerate the overall sales process, the result is like walking into a new home blind. Home inspections are a thorough assessment of a property’s key features. After the inspector performs their examination (in accordance with the discussed pre-inspection agreement), they will supply the homebuyer with a detailed report which serves as a comprehensive overview of their new home. Without a home inspection, buyers will be unaware of urgent maintenance needs to critical systems and other costly repair needs. Depending on the needs of the property, a home inspection can even uncover serious safety concerns, such as outdated electrical systems, the presence of mold or radon gas, and insufficient ventilation, which can lead to carbon monoxide buildup. What To Do If You Skipped Your Buyer’s Inspection Whether unaware of its importance or forced to skip the home inspection due to other factors, homeowners still have the opportunity to recover, even after their purchase has been finalized. 1. Order A Post-Purchase Inspection The first (and best) thing that a new homeowner can do after purchasing their house is to order a “post-purchase inspection.” While they won’t be able to capitalize on any negotiating power that a major repair discovery would warrant or potentially back out from a home with too many red flags, a post-purchase inspection will provide all of the valuable information a standard buyer’s inspection would have. With a home inspection report in hand, homeowners can plan important repairs and upgrades, as well as develop their long-term home maintenance strategy. No home is perfect, but planning ahead is the only way to extend the lifespan of a home’s key systems. 2. Schedule An Annual or Bi-Annual Home Maintenance Inspection While an inspection report is invaluable to homeowners, it captures the condition of a home only at the time of the inspection. Natural weather events and home improvement mishaps can all cause home systems to deteriorate quicker than expected, and the only way to get ahead of expensive malfunctions or even full breakdowns is through a regular home maintenance inspection. Professional property inspectors are trained to evaluate homes based on a strict set of standards that can help owners track their maintenance needs. Whether scheduling them once a year or twice annually, recurring home maintenance inspections provide the best picture of a home in its current state. 3. Start With A Stand-Alone Add-On Service Finally, if a full inspection is out of the question for whatever reason, homeowners can order a specific service to target a single concern. For instance, homes across the country deal with varying levels of radon which are particularly harmful to smokers and former smokers. Home inspectors can test only for radon in order to determine whether mitigation measures are needed in a new home. Other stand-alone add-on services include indoor air quality testing, sewer scope scans, mold testing, and more. Homeowners should take these necessary steps to ensure their home is safe for habitation. For more information on which services your local NPI inspector offers, call for a consultation or visit your website! Comments are closed.