BUYERS OF HOMES SHOULD BEWARE, SAYS HERMAN SUN

Joe Buyer just bought a house from Tom Seller.
Joe moved into the house and discovered that: The hot water doesn't work in the shower; That the wall outlets in the bedroom have no power; That the living room floor is not level.
What's he going to do?

Avoid Joe's uncomfortable situation. I recommend to all my clients that they get a PHYSICAL INSPECTION of any home they're planning to buy - before they close the deal.
A physical inspection consists of a careful examination by experts of the foundation, roof, electrical system, plumbing, gas and heating systems. These examinations should be performed by professionals who are licensed to do inspections. They cost an average of $350 to $650 - but, believe me, it's money well spent.

A physical inspection gives the prospective home buyer (or seller, for that matter) some very valuable information. These inspectors, who start from the outside and work their way in, can let you know such basic things as whether or not the wiring is adequate enough to meet today's normal power needs.

Normally, the seller will give the prospective buyer the right to conduct such a physical inspection. I suggest that such a contingency be included in the contract of purchase.

The buyer is almost always responsible for the cost of the inspection. But, once the examination is completed, the prospective buyer will be in a position to ask the seller to make any repairs which are indicated. The cost of these repairs then become a subject for negotiation between the buyer and seller.

While it is most common to make such an inspection before purchasing a house, in a seller's market some buyers may choose to waive their right to an inspection in order to make their offer more appealing to the seller. This specially applies when there are multiple offers on a house. An offer with fewer contingencies is often much more appealing to a seller.

Of course, there are some sellers who insist that a physical inspection be made so the prospective buyer knows exactly what he is getting and is satisfied with the home.

Buyers who have experience in construction and related fields may, if they feel secure about their knowledge, conduct their own examination.

Sometimes buyers interested in a new home will feel that an inspection is unnecessary. But, I always recommend an inspection. Construction of a new home could involve multiple contractors and a lot of different people. You never know exactly what you're getting in the way of construction quality before you put down your money.
In addition to my recommendation on physical inspection, I'm also offering you some other home-buying tips. For information on what other homes in your area are selling for, please contact me.