Before finalizing any type of deal on a home, a professional home inspection is critical. Although most states require sellers to disclose problems in writing to a buyer, in reality it’s still ‘‘buyer beware.’’ While a seller may fill out a multipage sellers’ disclosure form, at the time there’s no way to tell whether it’s accurate.
It boils down to the seller’s opinion of the home’s condition at the time the form is filled out, so it’s best to use it as a starting point only. The best protection from buying a problem home is to hire a professional home inspector to evaluate it before you commit.
The advantages of getting a home inspection include the following: You can make your purchase offer subject to a satisfactory inspection. If the report comes back with serious problems, you can back out of the deal and get your deposit back.
You can use the inspection as leverage to get the seller to repair problems or give you a credit on the sales price. The inspection report can reveal problems that are not serious enough to kill the sale, and that you can fix on your own afterward. This allows you to make an informed decision with no surprises when you move in.
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