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Home inspections are an important part of many real estate transactions. As a buyer, you want to know you’re getting a safe structure to live in. As a seller, you want to ensure you’re acting with integrity.

It’s important for those on both sides of the transaction to understand how home inspections work. Simply put, they involve a certified home inspector who deeply examines the home’s major systems. These include HVAC, electrical, plumbing, and structural components, along with insulation and surfaces like siding and flooring.

Because home inspections aren’t tests, there’s no such thing as a failing grade. However, inspectors can find serious issues that require additional consideration before the purchase is finalized.

If the home inspector’s report comes back with less than favorable information, you still have options.

Renegotiate the Price

If you’re a homebuyer whose dream house isn’t in the condition you hoped it was, one option is to go back to the drawing board and renegotiate the price. Repairs to the foundation, roof, or major internal systems can be costly, especially if the issues have been neglected over time.

You may have to pay out of pocket for repairs, so it’s worth asking the seller to lower the price of the home. This will keep more money in your wallet as you financially prepare for the future work that the home requires.

Consider Negotiating Repairs

Some sellers can’t or won’t reduce the price of the house based on inspection findings. In that case, you may want to consider asking them outright to make the repairs before finalizing the sale.

This route may be easier than you think, especially if the requested repair involves a simple or low-cost solution. However, negotiations may be more challenging when the necessary repairs are more time-consuming or expensive.

Sellers often prefer to just complete the sale and not make any further changes to the home. In that case, it might be difficult to get them to agree to pay for the repairs. If you encounter this challenge, be prepared to make some difficult decisions about whether you want to pay for repairs yourself or back out of the deal altogether.

Consider the Entire Cost of Your Home-Buying Journey

When you purchase a home, an inspection reveals things that you must consider beyond the amount of your mortgage payment.

Understand that an unfavorable home inspection report will not stop the transaction. You don’t need an inspection to get approved for traditional financing, and inspections aren’t required before you sign on the dotted line.

Serious problems can be costly to fix, however, and they cause more headaches than any home is worth. Issues that appear during an inspection can further complicate the already complex home-buying process.

If you want to help homeowners discover potentially hidden truths about their new house before they buy it, consider a rewarding career as a home inspector. Contact the RocketCert team today to learn more about how to obtain the education and credentials you need to help buyers make purchases that are safe and financially sound.