A home inspection is an important part of buying a home. Buyers need to know whether their new home is structurally safe with functional systems, and they want to know if the home is healthy for their family to live in. Buyers need to know these things, and ethical sellers want to disclose them.
However, the inspection process sometimes results in a lot of turmoil for both parties. Buyers sometimes want the inspector to discover every worn thread on a screw, or every bit of missing caulk on a bathtub. If an inspection becomes a nit-picking attempt to reduce the price by nibbling away at it, dollar by dollar, then things have gone off the track.
So what is important? For the buyer, they first need to know that the house and its systems are sound, and that there is no problem with mold, carbon monoxide, asbestos, or exposed lead paint. Secondarily, we want to know if the roof leaks or the plumbing is in poor condition, for example. Any significant problem needs to be exposed so that it can be reflected in the price.
As a buyer it is your right to thoroughly investigate the condition of the home you wish to purchase. But, you owe it to yourself and the seller to remember that unless the home is new, it is probably not perfect, and never will be again. Fight the important battles rather than petty squabbles and, whatever you do, make sure you are there for the inspection so that you can make the distinction. Due diligence and common sense can coexist.
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