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You will have to deal with a report on a home inspection whether you are a buyer or seller. If this is your first report, you may be apprehensive. It can be a bit overwhelming for sellers who have limited time to address property problems. According to Innovative Property Solutions this is a huge deal for a buyer as it makes them aware of any issues they or their seller may need to budget or address.
Home Inspection Report
After a thorough evaluation of your property, home inspectors such as myself will provide you with an impartial document. It outlines the current condition of the home, including its structural, mechanical, and system issues. The report will not include any repair estimates. The report may be anywhere from 15 to over 100 pages long. The report should contain high-quality photographs to give a clear view of any defects in the property.
How to Read a Home Inspection Report
Focus first on the General Summary section of the report. This is the first thing we put in our reports. Since Florida State Laws or Standards of Practice (SOP) cover these issues, they must be prioritized.
You can find recommendations and determine if you have electrical issues, roof damage that could lead to water damages, structural or foundation issues, HVAC issues, or water heater problems. This is a summary and does not include all issues, including simple observations and/or recommendations. Be sure to read through the whole report in order to get all of the findings and observations. The General Summary is just the beginning.
Sample Home Inspection Report Details:
General Information Regarding the Property and Its Condition
You can find out the year of construction, the type of foundation, as well as any other relevant information about your home.
The main systems of the property
You’ll find informational comments in each section about the major systems. You can list the system type, heating/cooling sources, capacity, etc.
You’ll find examples of this type of information:
- The foundation structure of the property
- Information about the exterior of the building, including the condition and appearance of the driveways, porches, balconies and walkways
- Roof Materials
- Plumbing system including pipes, drainage and water heater
- Electrical systems, such as breakers and fuse
- Heating and cooling systems
The report will also include the condition of walls, doors, floors, ceilings, chimneys and attics. The report will identify safety concerns and suggest repair options.
Photos Of Property Issues
In order to document and visually show existing problems, photos in an inspection report is crucial. It is also a great way for buyers and sellers to communicate problems when they are negotiating the price.
Thermal imaging equipment can be used to detect moisture, air leakages, inadequate insulation or overheating electrical parts. When asking contractors for estimates, photos can also help. They can often guess the scope of the repair and the nature of the problem by looking at the photos.
Inspection Report Summary
The first section of the report is a summary. It will include the results of the inspection as well as the problems that were found. A rating is usually given to diagnose the severity of a problem. Renegotiation begins when you show the seller the summary report. Negotiation will be easier when there are major defects, such as safety or health concerns. Repairs that are minor don’t usually make a big difference in price.
Use your home inspection report in negotiations
The buyer has the power to renegotiate or continue the purchase after receiving the report of the inspector. The buyer can choose to stop the purchase or to ask the seller to make the necessary repairs. The buyer can choose to provide you with the report if they requested it, but you are not obliged to.
You need to be flexible and prepared for any situation that may arise when you are a seller performing a pre-listing examination. What you can do is:
Negotiations will always be inevitable
Property issues can be major or minor. Asking an experienced real-estate negotiator for their presence in a meeting with a potential buyer is the best way to go. It may take some time as the buyer will review the report extensively and insist on repairs in order to reduce their costs.
Attend the inspection
You will gain more information by attending the inspection and can gauge the severity of a problem. You will find it easier to understand data on the inspection report if you are present during the inspection.
If recommended, seek second opinions from professional experts
Human error is always possible in a report of an inspection, particularly in the context of Home Inspection in Tampa. If a buyer requests expensive repairs, you should also have a specialist check the issue. It may turn out that the issue is not as serious as it was reported, and you will save money on costly repairs or equipment replacement.
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