NAVIGATING THE Inspection Process

According to the Purchase and Sale Agreement you have the opportunity to have the home inspected by a professional Inspector during the due diligence period set forth in the contract. You can avoid, or at least anticipate, costly repairs to structural or mechanical systems by having an inspection. The sales contract specifies when the inspection will take place after the offer is accepted and that closing is contingent upon satisfactory inspection. Inspection costs can be as low as $350 or as much as $1,000, depending on the size of the home.

If you are purchasing a stucco home you may want to further inspect the condition of the stucco. The cost is approximately $600 – $1,500 depending on the size of the home for this separate inspection.

The inspection requires specific technical skills. You may be familiar with common problems, but a professional home inspector can give you a better overview of the entire structure of a home and its potential problems. We strongly encourage you to accompany the inspector who examines your house. He can point out potential problems and help you locate special devices such as the items listed below:

• On/off switch on furnace, air conditioner, etc.

• Pilot light on water heater, oven, etc.

• Fuse box

• Main water shut-off controls

• Plumbing and electrical systems

• Heating, ventilation, air conditioning systems

• Septic tank, well or sewer line