The Inspection Period & The Final Walk Through

Skipping forward in this series we come to the Inspection Period and the final walkthrough. I know we just skipped much of the contract but I am sticking to areas that are most commonly asked about. All parts are equally important but the inspection period is certainly one of the most important to both the seller and the buyer. I am a ASHI certified home inspector myself, but I do not inspect homes.

The Process Of Closing On A House

Inspection Period

In Tampa you can usually get a home inspected in less than one week. However I prefer to ask for a 10 day inspection period if I am representing the buyer and the home is older. You can easily end up needing to get other inspections completed after scratching the surface and, stuff happens. Many home sellers have no idea the things wrong with their home and you may even run into a seller who may not want you to look very close.

The Typical Home Inspector

A home inspection does not include a termite inspection. In fact although this inspection typically takes over 2 hours you may be surprised what they do not inspect, and what they do inspect. However they are usually very good at what they do and are money well spent. If, a home inspector sees signs of termites they will point it out and suggest further inspection. Even though the first floors of Florida homes are typically concrete termites are still a possibility.

Additional Inspections

Many of the homes in Tampa were built before 1978 and may contain lead paint and even asbestos. Be mindful of these items and the additional cost their presence may incur. Many of the homes here also do not have concrete foundations and need to be crawled under and inspected prior to purchase. The good news is that there are professionals willing to do just that fairly economically.

If you find an something wrong with the home and no longer are interest in the home you can back out of the contract (assuming you use the right contract) and get your deposit back in days. As for negotiations, that would take pages of typing and those situations can go smooth or horrible. Use an experienced realtor like one of ours and you will be better off in the long run, and short run as well.

Final Walk Through

Usually you want the final walk through the day before closing just in case there is a problem. I have seen sellers swap out fixtures for cheaper ones and try to get by with it. It is also common for sellers to remove items mounted to the walls and leave holes everywhere. Look close at everything because this is your last chance. Having a home inspection soon after going under contract certainly helps the final walkthrough as well. For example, what if on the final walkthrough you discover a large new crack in the concrete floor? Another quick tip, always look in the attic because I have seen sellers forget all about the items in the attic when moving out.