FAQ: What's a Buyers Home Inspection?

You've probably heard about getting a home inspected before purchasing it. But, when should you ask to get an inspection and who's responsible for paying for it? Here's how it works!

Before even considering an inspection on the property you'll need to negotiate with the seller of the home. When both buyer and seller agree on a price then you'll be able to approach the inspection.

Next you'll need to find an inspector. Home buyers are always the ones that will need to find and pay for the inspector to come out. The current home owners are under no obligation to pay for the inspection.

The best way to find a good inspector that you'll be able to trust is to ask for referrals. In most cases your realtor, family, friends, or a good old Google search can help you find a good inspector. Be sure to look over any reviews the inspector might have just in case.

After you've found a good inspector all that you'll have left to do is wait for the results. The Inspection process also acts as a contingency. If you decide after seeing the results of the inspection that you'd rather not purchase the house, you're under no obligation to go through with the previously negotiated deal.

If you're buying the house it's also a good time to call the city to see if the home has any open permits on it. You'll also want to ask if the home had all the proper permissions to replace different items in the house or complete any remodels.

Inspections aren't too expensive when you consider how much money they could be saving you. The cost of an inspection is going to vary depending on how large the home is. Most first time home buyers should expect to pay between $300 and $450.

The short answer is no. Minnesota law does not require you to complete a home inspection before purchasing a home. But, we highly recommend it and almost all home buyers get inspections before they choose to go through with an offer on the home.

After the inspection is complete you'll be able to decide whether you want to go through with the purchase of the home or not.

You can ask the current owners to pay for some of the most important repairs. A lot of home buyers focus on hazardous items such as electrical or plumbing during this time. When the roof, siding, windows, or other big ticket items need to be repaired or replaced most sellers will choose to discount the price for the buyer.

If the buyer of the home is asking for too much in repairs or too great of a discount the sellers might choose to pass on the offer and find a different buyer. If the market is hot and there are multiple offers in line don't ask for too much. You don't want to miss out on getting a house.

If you're looking to sell your home or would like someone to represent you in the home buying process, we'd be happy to help. We've been helping buyers and sellers for years now and we'd love to help you. Contact us today - 651-336-7612!