Inspection issues : Rooftop Views

Rooftop Views

Inspection issues

In Colorado the Buyer has the right to inspect the house after the contract is signed. They can hire anyone they care to use to help with this inspection. Typically a professional home inspection service is used.

The home inspector we recommend is a member of ASHI (The American Society of Home Inspectors) and has completed literally hundreds of home inspections. He always tells it like it is.

Some buyers seem to think a home inspection is about cosmetic items - the paint is chipped, the driveway shows signs of wear, the carpet needs to be replaced, etc. We believe the home inspection is about major mechanical and/or structural items. After all, the cosmetic items were there when the Buyer saw the house and still decided to purchase it.

Sellers in Colorado are asked to fill out a Property Disclosure form which is several pages long and covers everything from when the last time the chimney was cleaned to if any major additions were built without a permit. Although this form is voluntary on the part of the Seller, it is a rare circumstance where it is not filled out. If the home is lender owned or is part of an estate where the Seller has not lived there, the Disclosure is not filled out. But those are the exceptions.

Using this Disclosure as a guideline, Buyer and inspector can go through the house and make sure everything is working properly. This includes plumbing, electrical systems, heating systems and even the windows. When the inspection is completed, the inspector gives a written report to the Buyer outlining everything found - from the smallest item to the largest. It is then up to the Buyer and their agent to determine what they are going to ask the Seller to repair or replace.

The Seller in Colorado is not required to repair or replace anything. They can choose to do nothing, or to do some things and not others, or to offer a price reduction in lieu of repairs. The Buyer may then accept those terms or choose to terminate the contract.

Inspections are always a nervous time for everyone involved in the transaction and are usually completed very quickly after the contract is signed.

If you are a Buyer, make sure you use a good home inspector - they can save you lots of headaches later.