Home Inspections – What Are They And Why Do You Need Them?

Hey there, I’m Karim Alaeddine, Principal Broker at Living Room Realty.

Congratulations on taking the leap into homeownership! Let’s dive into the process and talk about the nitty-gritty.

Today, we’re talking home inspections.

 

Home Inspection Contingency

The real estate purchase agreement is a 10+ page document that lays out the terms of the sale. Included is your “home inspection contingency”, a specified period of time for you to bring in a team of pros who will inspect the home and its systems. They’ll dig into every nook & cranny, identifying areas of needed attention or maintenance, pointing out red flags and summarizing the overall condition of the home.

 

What Are They Inspecting?

Expect them to scrutinize everything from the roof to the foundation, plumbing to HVAC, and beyond. A common inspection schedule might include sewer video scoping, radon testing, underground oil storage tank searching & evaluation. Often, specialists are called in for deeper analysis of electrical panels, attic or crawlspace evaluation, on site drainage mapping, etc.

 

The Power Of Knowledge

Knowing about any current or impending issues upfront will give you the power to make an informed decision during the rest of the transaction. This will allow you to move forward with confidence, renegotiate terms, or even rethink the whole deal. The advocate entrusted with guiding you through this process, your realtor, will bring their body of experience and context to you and work to create a safe landing for you at closing.

Bottom line: Your home inspection period is there to protect you. So, now is the time when you get to make sure that the home is exactly what you thought it was.

 

Make A Move 

Ready to make a move? Call your agent today. We would love to help you find your next Living Room.

 

Did You Know?

Ready to level up your home buying knowledge? Delve into our “Did You Know?” series where we unpack essentials of the real estate process. From decoding home inspections to demystifying mortgages, we’re here to make your journey seamless. Explore more insightful tips tailored for your home buying adventure. Let’s make your real estate dreams a reality!

Finding Success in a Tough Market

There are lots of tough, “school of hard knocks” buyer stories out there right now, given the very strong Sellers’ Market we’ve been experiencing since the dawn of 2021.  But even in this seller-oriented market, we’ve been able to find success for many of our buyer clients.

Jim and Beth had been pondering a few different options for some changing family housing needs in their extended family.  They spent the better part of 2020 exploring and evaluating the market in and around Portland but nothing seemed quite right.  Then a house hit the market in January, just blocks from their current Sellwood home and it. was. perfect.  Clarity achieved!

Don’t get us wrong!  Of course, there were multiple offers and of course, Jim and Beth had to offer well above the asking price in order to win the home.  But all that evaluation time in 2020 helped Jim and Beth quickly understand the realities of the market.  They acted fast and were able to make informed decisions. 

On top of that, we were able to negotiate some rare pre-closing repairs at the sellers’ expense, and effective communication with the listing agent made for a smooth transaction… (well, except maybe for that small part about literally running for their cashier’s check, the day before closing!).  These were all good things for Jim and Beth who are working full time with small children at home, 24-hours, every single day.  Yup, whispered nap-time real estate conversations have become our specialty  (actually, we think whispered real estate conversations are super fun and calming so don’t be surprised if we start whispering if things start to get intense)!

Helping our clients evaluate and explore real estate options is an important part of our job.  We know that some time to thoughtfully explore and consider, spent in advance of your deadlines, can prove invaluable in the long or short run!

We’d be happy to help you explore your options and discover what makes the most sense for you.

Kari & Erika:  HouseLovePDX
971.322.6612 | 503.349.5449
www.houselovepdx.com