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5 Tips to Ace a Verbal Home Inspection


A final walk-through inspection is the last step to ensure a property being purchased is without issues before the closing of the contract can be made. It’s a step that’s not to be overlooked, as even in the ending stages of a real-estate transaction, issues often do pop up.

So, if you’re about to seal a real-estate transaction in the area of San Diego, it’s always best to hire verbal home inspection services to make sure everything goes according to plan.

To help you understand the benefits of a verbal home inspection, nail the final stages of your purchase and help you prepare for a verbal walk-through, we’ve come up with some pieces of advice you might find useful. Read on!

What should I do for a final walk-through? Tips-to-Ace-a-Verbal-Home-Inspection

The final walk-through will give you the opportunity to see whether the property you are buying is in the conditions you agreed upon with the seller. So, to make sure you don’t miss anything of importance, here’s what you should do:

 

1. Attend it with your home inspector

As they say, two heads are better than one and, most typically, the buyer will attend the final walk-through with their agent. However, if your home inspection has required the seller to make any repairs, you should ask for the company of your inspector to re-examine the property and make sure the repairs were made as agreed.

 

2. Schedule it as close to the closing date as possible

To be completely sure that no unexpected changes happen in the time between the final walk-through and signing of the contract, you should schedule the inspection within 24 hours before the closing is due.

 

3. Don’t rush it

Bear in mind that a final walk-through is your last chance to notice any issues that can cost you both time and money in the long run. Take your time and this opportunity to ask your inspector to give you feedback on anything that still might concern you.

 

4. Follow a checklist

To make sure you don’t miss anything, it can be useful to have a checklist at hand. Here’s what you should do:

  • Test all the light switches.
  • Run taps, flush toilets, and see if there are leaks anywhere.
  • Check whether all the appliances are functional.
  • Check all doors and windows to see if they open and close properly.
  • Take a good look at floors, walls, and ceilings.
  • Turn on the air conditioning and heating to see how they work.
  • See if the garage door openers work.
  • Check that all the garbage and personal belongings are taken out of the home.

5. Know how to negotiate issues

Sometimes the final walk-through will uncover issues that were not part of the original purchase agreement. For example, some of the repairs may not be done correctly, some of the items you agreed upon could be missing, or there could be some that you didn’t agree to take. However, all of this is negotiable. As a buyer, you can delay the closing until the problem is resolved.

What-should-I-do-for-a-final-walk-throughWhere in San Diego can I hire the most trusted verbal home inspection services?

If you’re looking to buy or sell a property in Kensington, or anywhere else across the city of San Diego, and you’d like to make an informed decision, The Inspectors Company are more than happy to offer you their knowledge.

At The Inspectors Company, you can rely on our team of experienced InterNACHI certified home inspectors that can meet all of your home inspection needs and address all of your concerns. We offer a wide range of inspection services, along with a transparent pricing system to guarantee that our clients are completely satisfied. Reach out to us today!

The Do’s and Don’ts of a Verbal Home Inspection


The-Dos-and-Donts-of-a-Verbal-Home-InspectionVerbal walk-through inspections can be an excellent choice for both buyers and sellers who wish to get an on-the-spot estimate of a property’s major components. But, how can you fully benefit from a verbal inspection, and what should you do for a final walk-through?

To get the answers to these questions and prepare for a walk-through assessment, it’s crucial to understand what questions you can ask during the course of the inspection and what requests you should and shouldn’t make after it.

So, if you live in the area of San Diego and you’re thinking about getting a verbal home inspection service, we’ve put together a list of do’s and don’ts to help you set your expectations. Keep reading to learn more!

What to ask during a walk-through inspection?

A walk-through inspection gives you the advantage of being present at the time of the inspection. So, whether you are the seller or the buyer, don’t shy away from taking notes and asking your inspector:

  • How bad the extent of damage is.
  • How a certain issue can be fixed.
  • How to prioritize repairs.
  • How specific systems work and how to maintain them.
  • How long home systems and appliances are expected to last before you need to replace them.

What to ask after a verbal home inspection?

As a buyer, you can ask the seller if they are willing to:

  • Repair major causes of concern, such as structural damage, mold issues, or code violations.
  • Lower the price of the property to make up for the cost of repairs.

As a seller, depending on what the verbal walk-through has disclosed, you can ask your inspector:

  • Whether you should consider investing in repairs.
  • What you can expect when negotiating with buyers.
  • To help you accurately fill out the Seller’s Disclosure Statement.
  • Whether you should get a more in-depth type of inspection, which includes a written report.

What should you not ask after a home inspection? What-should-you-not-ask-after-a-home-inspection

The goal of a verbal home inspection is to point out issues that may affect future investments into the property. With this in mind, everything you request after this type of inspection should fall within the category of structurally significant and/or costly.

So, if you are a home-buyer, what you’re not entitled to ask for is:

  • Cosmetic alterations – If you dislike the look of the tiles or floors, the paint color of the walls, or think some parts of the home could use a touch-up, you should know that making these changes is up to you, and not the seller.
  • Low-cost repairs – If the cost of repairs is insignificant, you shouldn’t try and negotiate them.
  • External building repairs – If a tool shed or a garage look more run-down than you would like, but are not structurally compromised, the seller is not obliged to repair them.
  • Minor damage – Whether it’s a malfunctioning light switch or socket, minor water damage, loose doorknobs, railings and light fixtures, if the repairs are minor and easy to conduct, you should not expect the seller to do them for you.

Where in San Diego can I get the most reliable verbal home inspection service?

Are you interested in buying or selling a property in Egger Highlands, or another area of San Diego? You could use professional guidance to get a good grasp of its condition, so don’t hesitate to reach out to The Inspectors Company.

Our team of InterNACHI certified home inspectors is at your disposal to answer all of your questions and concerns and provide expert advice to help you make a real-estate purchase you won’t regret. Reach out to our pros today!