Your home is
in "escrow" once both the buyer and seller have agreed upon all terms and
conditions of the sale, and signed the contract.
Home inspection
Your home is in escrow, and the buyer has scheduled a home inspection. A home
inspection is a thorough visual examination of the home and property. The process usually
takes two to three hours, during which time the house is examined from the ground up. The
inspection includes observation and, when appropriate, operation of the plumbing, heating,
air conditioning, electrical, and appliance systems, as well as structural components:
roof, foundation, basement, exterior and interior walls, chimney, doors, and windows.
Qualified inspection companies will provide a sample report to substantiate that they
abide by industry standards. One of the key standards is that ethical inspectors neither
perform repairs nor refer clients to repair companies (thus avoiding a conflict of
interest). Obviously, inspectors who make repairs on homes they inspect are more likely to
"find" defects.
The buyer is likely to ask that any major defects be repaired at your expense.
Remember that everything is negotiable, and this is where I will work on your behalf to
get the best possible result for you!
