WHO SHOULD ATTEND THE HOME INSPECTION?
Getting your offer accepted is certainly an exciting time in the home buying process. The thought of buying a new house and moving into your new home is a major life event! Now it is time for your home inspection as an important part of the transaction process.
Inspections typically take 2-3 hours but might take longer depending on the size of the house, the overall condition and how many questions you might have for the inspector.
The buyer(s) should plan on attending the inspection, it is a great opportunity to look deeper into the condition of the property, ask questions about the major components and systems such as an estimated age of the roof, furnace and appliances. If the buyer can't attend the entire inspection, showing up is still recommended, especially towards the end of the process for good summary from the inspector. If for example, a wife and husband are buying the house together, both are encouraged to attend the inspection.
The real estate agent representing the buyer typically will attend the inspection. In some cases, the buyer's agent is required to be there. The buyer's agent is typically responsible for getting the keys to the house, or having permission to use the lock-box. The buyer's agent can help answer the buyer's questions pertaining to repair responsibilities or questions about any needed negotiations that might arise if a significant defect or repair issue is discovered.
KEY POINT TO REMEMBER: YOU DON'T OWN THE HOUSE YET!
If you want to show off the house to your parents, friends, family ~ you must remember that the house is not yours yet. The seller might not be expecting a small crowd of people to be going through the house during the inspection. You should get permission from the seller if you want to bring Mom & Dad, your best friend, or "my Dad's buddy who knows a lot about houses".
Having conducted over 10,000 home inspections, I could tell horror stories about buyers who bring people to inspections and watching those "guests" go through drawers & cabinets / turn on appliances like the TV, try to lift up carpets or move owner's stuff! The seller would not be expecting this to happen during the inspection.
Also, the inspector might be distracted if too many people are running around asking all kinds of questions during the inspection process.
In rare cases, the "guests" don't like the house or offer advice to the buyer that might not be accurate or appropriate.
Buyers need to use the 2-3 hour time period to learn about the house as an important part of the transaction process. If the buyer brings other people to the inspection, their focus can be diverted away from important issues.
* What is a good solution?
If the buyer's friends and family really want to see the house before the title transfers, perhaps the buyer's real estate agent can advise the buyers to have the guests stop by the inspection for just a brief time. The guests can look at the house at the beginning or end of the inspection process, but not be there for the entire time.
* The buyer should ask the seller for permission if other people like friends or family want to attend the inspection. This also applies for contractors like carpet companies / painters / remodeling.... The seller might not want too many people walking through the house.
* The guests of the buyers should not be getting involved in the inspection process! Some people watch too much HGTV and think they are doing the inspection. I have had buyer's guests use my ladder to go up on the roof ! (totally inappropriate and not safe)
* The seller of the property typically should NOT be there during the inspection. The buyer should have the freedom to look around and talk to the home inspector without having to worry about the seller evesdropping or inserting themselves into the inspection.
Conclusion: the goal of the inspection process to allow the buyer to get a detailed condition report to help the buyer make an informed decision.
CALL 440 937-DUKE if you have any questions about the inspection process.
DUKE INSPECTION SERVICES, INC.
Serving Northeast Ohio Since 1999
*Home Inspections
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*Certified Thermographer / Infrared
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