What Really Matters

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

1. Major defects.  An example would be a structural failure.
2. Things that lead to major defects.  A small roof flashing leak, for instance.
3. Things that may hinder or prevent your ability to mortgage, insure, or legally occupy the home.
4. Existing safety hazards, such as an exposed  live bus bar in the electrical panel

Anything in these four categories needs to be addressed!  Often a serious problem can be corrected inexpensively to protect both life and property.

Most sellers are honest and are often surprised to learn of problems 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.  Don’t kill your deal over things that do not matter.  It is inappropriate to demand that a seller address past due maintenance items or those that were already identified in the seller’s disclosure form, or petty items.