WHY DO I NEED A HOME INSPECTOR?

Buying a home is the largest purchase most people will make in their lifetime. It can also be the source of a lot of questions. Paramount among them - how can you be sure the home you’re buying is fit and safe?

For this and other reasons, it is a good idea to get a home inspection done on a property you are planning on purchasing - whether you’re searching for a home in State College or anywhere else. A professional home inspector can identify visible safety issues, as well as assess the condition of the home and whether additional repairs will be needed.

D. Shane Whitteker is the owner and chief broker at Principle Home Mortgage in State College, Pennsylvania. Whitteker says that all home buyers should hire a home inspector when buying a home.

“The up-front cost of a home inspector will be well worth it if there are any issues with the home,” Whitteker says.

What happens if the home inspector finds the home to need fixes? If the inspector identifies any issues with the home you are planning to purchase, Whitteker says you have some options on what you can do.

Re-Negotiate The Sales Price

According to Whitteker, if the home inspector reports that areas of the home need to be repaired you can negotiate the home’s purchase price with the seller.

“Home repairs affect the selling price. If major issues exist, the seller should be open to lowering the sale price to compensate for the money you will lose to make those repairs,” Whitteker says.

Something to consider: Sellers are often quicker to re-negotiate terms if the home has been on the market for a long time.

Request the Seller to Fix Issues

Some repairs a home needs are cosmetic - a fresh coat of paint, or a cracked driveway. Depending on the seller, some are happy to make needed repairs, although they may not be obligated to do so.

Cancelling Purchase Agreement

What if you can’t come to an agreement with the seller?

“If you and the seller cannot agree on a repair or a re-negotiation of terms it may be beneficial to walk away,” Whitteker says. “This can save you time, money, and much stress.”

If you get to the point of wanting to walk away, Whitteker recommends letting your real estate agent and mortgage broker know so they can help intervene on your behalf.

“Having your real estate agent or mortgage broker go to bat for you can help bring desired results and take some of the home purchasing related stress off you,” Whitteker says. “It is a good idea to add a contingency clause to your purchase agreement to have the ability to cancel the agreement if the inspection finds serious issues with the home. This is something to mention to your real estate agent when beginning the process of looking at homes.”

Principle Home Mortgage helps to connect their clients in State College and throughout Central Pennsylvania with home mortgages that are a good fit. To learn more about what to do - and not do- when purchasing a home, contact them today.