Both sides benefit from home inspections
I recently put an offer on a home that was accepted. To waive the conditions, I need to have a home inspection completed within five days. How should I go about this during the pandemic?
Including a home inspection condition within an offer is a good exercise in due diligence for any buyer, especially if they or others intend to live in the home. It may not be necessary if the buyer is looking to renovate the property extensively.
When choosing an inspector or inspection company, be sure to ask what health and safety measures, and pandemic protocols they have in place before hiring them to complete your inspection.
You will want to share this information with your salesperson to assist in co-ordinating the on-premises visit.
Home inspection reports provide buyers and sellers with a professional third-party opinion of the condition of the home and the property surrounding it. The information provided can help buyers to make an informed decision about purchasing the property and give them a better understanding of what the maintenance needs of the property will be.
Inspection reports can also benefit sellers in assessing the condition of the structure and major systems, which in turn could impact the value of the property.
When access to a property is required during the pandemic, you will want to work with both your and the seller’s salesperson to take a safety-first approach when arranging your visit. To prepare: á Speak with your salesperson to ensure anyone visiting the property is required to complete a COVID-19 screening questionnaire.
á Do not enter the seller’s property if you are feeling unwell, have recently travelled or have been in contact with someone diagnosed or suspected to have been exposed to the COVID-19 virus.
á Always follow public health directives like wearing a mask or face covering during your visit and avoid touching common surfaces; in this instance wearing gloves may assist in decreasing direct contact with high touch areas.
á Limit the number of people visiting the property to yourself and any other direct buyers/investors involved in the purchase, your salesperson and the inspector.
A qualified and experienced home inspector will examine the major systems in the home such as electrical, roofing, plumbing, heating/air conditioning, foundation and water management, and septic systems, if applicable
As a reminder, a home inspector conducts a non-invasive inspection only, and will not cut into walls, floorboards or cause damage to any part of the home to look for leaks or faults.
Though an inspection conducted by an experienced home inspector could find many things, it may not identify concealed or latent defects.
RECO does not regulate home inspectors. For information about home inspectors and home inspection services, you can speak to your real estate broker or salesperson.
If you have a question about the home buying or selling process, please email information@reco.on.ca.
Joe Richer is registrar of the Real Estate Council of Ontario (RECO) and contributor for the Star. Follow him on Twitter: @RECOhelps. This column is for general information purposes only and is not meant as legal or professional advice on real estate transactions.