Imagine this:
You are searching online for your home, and you see the picture of the perfect home pop up in your inbox. The exterior aesthetic is everything you could wish for. You click to learn more, and you’re scrolling through the pictures and the kitchen is your dream kitchen, the bathrooms are sparkling new, and the bedrooms look huge! You reach out to your agent, and schedule your tour. Now you’re walking around, falling more in love with the house because it is so beautiful with all of the new upgrades.
You make an offer, with a home inspection.
It’s home inspection day, and you get to spend a few hours in your future home as the inspector looks over everything. You notice that the shower was not properly installed. But that’s ok, it’s an easy fix. Then, the sink is leaking… the floor is bowing… the support beam has been cut in half… and the list continues on.
When you are looking for a home, it is very easy to get caught up in the looks of the home. You get distracted by it. Unless you are truly looking in detail, it is difficult to see the flaws until a home inspector comes through and starts to point it out. Not every flipped home is bad, but they do have a track record of covering items, and doing the renovations quickly, and normally done by themselves and not a licensed professional.
These items should be considered for any home purchase, but if you know it was a renovated home, I would be sure to look into the following:
Permits – Ask the Seller to provide the permits that they pulled. If they do not have it or cannot give it to you, reach out to the county. They are required to have certain inspections done when remodeling to make sure they are following the proper code.
Contractor names
Warranties for new appliances
If this is your first home, the home inspection results can be terrifying. It is important to know that every single home that has a home inspection, will come with items that need to be repaired or maintained. Why? It is a home inspectors job to find and let you know of everything that is “wrong” with your investment. Don’t be scared if items come up on the report, but it is really important to be cautious of what items come up, and how many items there are. It is a never ending list of items that were done incorrectly, you will probably be better off cutting your losses. But, if there are just a few items, and the repairs are simple, then go for it! Having a trusted Realtor by your side will help guide you to make the decision that is best for you and your family.
–Amber Fleck loves to welcome people to the area and share all of her favorite hidden gems. She enjoys the little things in life, and is thankful every day that she gets to do what she loves, and thoughtfully and intentionally help others navigate a major life decision. Contact her and learn more on her agent bio page here.