Congratulations! Your offer was accepted! At this point the first question I get from buyers is "now what?". Well aside from your lender starting your loan process, we need to arrange for your inspections. If you have been reading parts 1 and 2 of this series you have probably already decided what inspections you are going to get. Now you have the task of deciding who you will hire to do them.
Typically your agent, who likely has built a relationship with various inspectors over their career, will steer you in the right direction of who to hire. If you trust your agent you can safely assume they will refer the right service providers to you. If you are thinking of using someone else, here are some things to consider:
1. Just because your father/uncle/friend/brother-in-law is "handy" does not mean you should have them do your home inspection.
Unless they are licensed and make a living in their given field, I DO NOT reccommend doing this for two reasons: first, they are not qualified. Just because they have nicely remodeled their own home themselves or bought/sold properties before does not mean they are qualified to evaluate the condition of the property for you. Second, if they miss something BIG you have no recourse. Home inspectors generally have errors and ommissions coverage in the event of a future dispute over items found in the inspection so you as the buyer have some recourse if there is a mistake made. I understand it is a cost saving measure, but it is not worth it.
2. Hiring the right professional carries more weight when asking for repairs/concessions:
If you use an inspection or a bid from a vendor as a reason to ask the seller to pay for repairs or take money off the sales price, the seller will ask to see the reports and/or bids. A bid or report from a qualified professional (that does not have the same last name as the buyer) will be taken much more seriously by the seller because they know it is truly an unbiased opinion from an independent third party.
3. Choose the right professional for specialized inspections:
If you are having something specific looked at, such as a water heater, air conditioner or pool equipment, have the right vendor look at it. As experienced as some handymen are you should not get a bid from one to do heater and air conditioner repairs for example. If the roof needs repairs, have a qualified roofer look at it. It may cost you a little more up front, but the knowledge and expertise you will get from them in the long run will be worth it.
These considerations are especially important in a market such as ours here in Modesto where many homes are vacant and we have no contact with the previous occupant to help assess the home. Buyers are virtually going in blind, so having the most qualified people evaluate the home for you are your best bet.
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