August 24, 2010
Home Inspection before you Close the Deal in Portland
In the past ten years or so, it has become almost a necessity to have your dream home inspected by a registered home inspector prior to closing the deal. Years ago, we went full blast into a house not always aware of its pitfalls and lengthy list of repairs. We are talking about resale homes or homes which have been lived in before in Portland.
A home inspector will come to the house, for a set fee, with his ladder and flashlight, check list and various other tools and do a very thorough search of your house from stem to stern. There will be nothing left unturned from the garage, cellar, septic tank to the roof and all that is in between. There are many different inspectors available and you should shop around and get references. The basic list of checks is available online which should act as a guideline for the basic inspection. The inspector could give you a ball park figure of what it would cost to fix the items or you should hire a contractor to do a written estimate. Every resale home in Portland should have a comprehensive check done.
However, more features of the home need to be checked. A comprehensive check of the home, as part of a conditional offer on a resale home, should be done automatically. This will give the buyers peace of mind that they know what, if anything needs repairs and how much it could cost, based on a contractor’s evaluation. A simple glance at the floors and walls is not enough. Real Estate in Portland is cautioning for better home inspections before a deal is signed.
Make sure that the inspector checks for pests which could eat away and rot the wood in your home, the presence of any chemicals or old insulation such as formaldehyde, asbestos, rodents or any foundation issues below the grade. Pay particular attention to rot, mildew or dampness.
If you find that the house has too many repairs to make and they are prohibitive for you to undertake, the conditional offer may become null and void. Talk this over with your agent and lawyer first. If the repairs are as simple as repairing a set of kitchen cupboards, you might wish to take this on yourself. Remember that there are other houses to look at and it is a buyer’s market right now. The interest rates are phenomenal and the world is your oyster. Don’t feel pressured into buying a house which requires extensive renovations and repairs. Furthermore, if you have the inspection done, and it shows little repair is required, then you can command a higher price in the real estate market in Portland.
Whatever your decision, Tony and Libby Kelly will be pleased to offer their advice on any home or inspection questions.
