What Matters

What Really Matters...

Relax.  Put you confidence in a professional trained to provide the most complete and knowledgeable information available. Most of your inspection will be educational with maintenance recommendations, life expectancies and minor imperfections. These are nice to know about.  However, the issues that really matter will fall into four categories:

1. Major defects.  An example of this would be a structural failure, defective roof or furnace .
2. Things that lead to major defects.  A small roof-flashing leak, for example.
3. Things that may hinder your ability to finance or insure the home such as unsafe wiring or plumbing.
4. Safety hazards, such as a gas leak or an exposed, live buss bar at the electric panel.

Anything in these categories should be addressed.  Often a serious problem can be corrected inexpensively to protect both life and property (especially in categories 2 and 4).

Most sellers are honest and are often surprised to learn of defects uncovered during an inspection.  Realize that sellers are under no obligation to repair everything mentioned in the report.  No home is perfect.  Keep things in perspective.  Do not kill your deal over things that do not matter.  It is inappropriate to demand that a seller address deferred maintenance, conditions already listed on the seller's disclosure or nit-picky items.

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