Above and Beyond Home Inspection

Buying a home? The process can be stressful.  A home inspection is supposed
to give you peace of mind, but often has the opposite effect.  You will be asked
to absorb a lot of information in a short time.  This often includes a written
report, a checklist, photographs, environmental reports, and what the inspector
himself says during the inspection.  All this, combined with the seller's
disclosure and what you notice yourself, makes the experience even more
overwhelming.  What should you do?

Relax.  Most of your inspection will be maintenance recommendations, life
expectancies for various systems and components, and minor imperfections. These
are useful to know about.  However, the issues that really matter will fall into
four categories:

1. major defects.  An example of this would be a structural failure;


2. things that lead to major defects, such as a small roof-flashing leak, for
   example;


3. things that may hinder your ability to finance, legally occupy, or insure
   the home; and


4. safety hazards, such as an exposed, live buss bar at the electrical panel.
   

Anything in these categories should be addressed.  Often, a serious problem
can be corrected inexpensively to protect both life and property (especially in
categories 2 and 4).

Most sellers are honest and are often surprised to learn of defects
uncovered during an inspection.  Realize that sellers are under no obligation to
repair everything mentioned in the report.  No home is perfect.  Keep things in
perspective.  Do not kill your deal over things that do not matter.  It is
inappropriate to demand that a seller address deferred maintenance, conditions
already listed on the seller's disclosure, or nit-picky items.