forgoing a home inspection?

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​Home inspections have become integral to the home buying process. Before waiving the opportunity to have a professional home inspection, regardless of how competitive the market may be, buyers and sellers might both want to consider the following:

Home inspections shouldn't complicate things. Points of interest or concern discovered during an inspection might give rise to renegotation, or a request that the seller rectify a shortcoming, however rarely present a reason for a good deal to fall through.

A pre-listing insepection is a great way for sellers to understand how to prepare their homes for sale, possibly investing in cost-effective improvements, while avoiding unnecessary expenses - and the potential hassle of renegotiation, or possibly even starting over again.


Some things to think about:

1. A home inspection represents an opinion of the overall condition of the property, based upon visual evaluation of the areas accessible at the time of the inspection. It is unreasonable to expect that absolutely everything will be found, or that every contingency can be predicted.
2. It's a good idea to attend the home inspection, taking the opportunity to ask questions first-hand, perhaps getting some suggestions from the home inspector - and to make sure you fully appreciate the implications of any critical information.
3. Understand the scope and limitations of a home inspection, which should be provided in writing by the home inspector. Although a professional home inspection will be as comprehensive as possible, it is not a warranty, guarantee or an insurance policy.
4. There is no such thing as a perfect house. Don't be disappointed if the inspection reveals problems; most home will have a few areas which require attention now or later. A seller can use the information to make improvements before listing their home. A buyer can use the information to better understand how to care for their new home - whether relying upon a pre-list or pre-purchase inspection report.

The Bottom Line

Even if you negotiate a great price on your new home, there are a number of other fees like closing costs, mortgage insurance, real estate fees, and more.  If you're like many people, you may be feeling a cash crunch by this time. You might be wondering why you would want to incur yet another expenditure, such as a pre-purchase home inspection.

Forgoing the home inspection could cost you a lot more. You miss the opportunity for a more detailed, personal viewing of your own, in addition to an well-organized inspection by a trained, experienced person. Home inspectors are accustomed to looking at a variety of houses, are not emotionally attached to your new home, and are more likely to ferret out problems you may have missed.