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<\/a>Your home inspection won\u2019t reveal everything<\/h2>\n
First some quick background on the home inspection: A home inspection<\/a> brings to light any issues with a home that could impact its value or ability to live there \u2014 and nearly 80% of buyers<\/a> opt to get one before closing. A basic home inspection takes about two to three hours<\/a> and costs from $300 to $1,000, depending on a home\u2019s location and size, the extent of the inspection, and the inspector\u2019s experience.<\/p>\n Yet as detailed as it gets, it doesn\u2019t cover every nook, creak, and cranny<\/a>. Inspectors focus on a home\u2019s structure and systems \u2014 heating, ventilation, air conditioning, electrical, plumbing \u2014 but they don\u2019t move furniture, appliances, or belongings beyond basics like opening doors and removing the electrical panel.<\/p>\n So they can\u2019t tear into walls to see if there\u2019s a leak behind the bathroom faucet or the bathtub. Home inspectors are generalists, not specialists, so they\u2019ll recommend, say, checking with a roofer for an in-depth assessment of shiny or curling shingles.<\/p>\n Sellers can be held liable legally and financially for problems that they hide deliberately, so real estate attorneys such as Mark Chernoff<\/a>, who serves Phoenix, Scottsdale, and other parts of Arizona, recommend they disclose precisely what they know<\/a> about a property \u2014 nothing more and nothing less \u2014 to avoid accidentally misrepresenting a problem.<\/p>\n But what people know is hard to prove, and some sellers become nervous about being imprecise. Others might try to hide the ages of water heaters, HVAC systems, and other appliances by saying they don\u2019t know how old they are<\/a> \u2014 something a home inspector can determine easily.<\/p>\n Sellers often like to show off renovations and will recount every detail, including which contractor they hired, the materials used, and why. \u201cThen you ask them about something else that wasn\u2019t done right, and they can\u2019t remember a thing,\u201d said Matt Steinhausen, an independent home inspector<\/a> since 1999 in Lincoln, Nebraska, who holds an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau<\/a>.<\/p>\n Landlords, flippers, and rehabbers often claim they don\u2019t know a property well because they haven\u2019t lived there \u2014 but all of them know a building\u2019s ins and outs better than the buyer who walks in cold, said Marcus Vanzant<\/a>, a top-selling agent in Bradenton, Florida, with 24 years of experience.<\/p>\n Almost all states have a disclosure form<\/a> where sellers address a property\u2019s age and condition; its water source; the nature of its sanitary sewer system; and any structural defects, as well as matters such as lead paint or termites. But disclosure laws nationwide vary<\/a>; some states, such as Alabama, have a \u201cCaveat Emptor\u201d or \u201cBuyer Beware\u201d rule<\/a>, which still requires the seller or seller\u2019s agent to disclose anything that impacts the buyer\u2019s health or safety.<\/p>\n What to do:<\/b><\/p>\n Some sellers don\u2019t realize how serious an issue is or try to be helpful by crafting a quick fix. Jesus Cardenas<\/a>, a top-selling agent in Pembroke Pines, Florida, remembers one client who said he\u2019d just paint over the mold<\/a> on his air conditioner. Knowing this could mask structural damage, Cardenas said to call in a professional, who cut out the drywall and cleaned the AC.<\/p>\n Another top-selling agent, Santiago Valdez<\/a> of Chicago, thought it odd that one lovely single-family house had a newly remodeled basement<\/a> but not an updated kitchen.<\/p>\n The sellers explained that a sewer line mishap had flooded the basement two years earlier, and their insurance company had paid for the remodel. They didn\u2019t think to disclose this because it was a one-time incident that had been remedied, but buyers appreciated the details, he said.<\/p>\n Paint can cover cracks in the walls or ceilings, mold, and water stains. Paneling hides cracks and structural damage<\/a>. New carpeting is a recommended fix to cover floor tiles containing asbestos<\/a>, but buyers likely still want to know what\u2019s underneath.<\/p>\n Vanzant has encountered flippers who have redone a house\u2019s interior surfaces but left behind outdated plumbing or electrical systems.<\/p>\n His office advises people who bought houses that were said to be remodeled, complete with brand-new flooring, only to remove those floors because of the homes\u2019 faulty drainage systems. \u201cWe\u2019re trying to walk them [the residents] through processes on how to resolve the issue and even contact an attorney if they have to,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n What to do:<\/b><\/p>\n Homeowners may be embarrassed that a sewer line broke and flooded the basement, or that their home\u2019s wiring shorted out during a thunderstorm, but buyers are more likely to feel reassured when they know the full story. Some sellers opt to move once a house reaches a certain age and they can\u2019t afford the maintenance<\/a>; if that\u2019s the case here, buyers should know.<\/p>\n While these statements might be true, they can distract buyers and belittle issues at hand. \u201cThe minimization is trying to make a homebuyer feel more comfortable,\u201d Steinhausen said. \u201cI don\u2019t think that\u2019s necessarily inappropriate, but if we minimize everything, people are no longer cautious, and they miss problems.\u201d<\/p>\n What to do:<\/b><\/p>\n Some buyers will try to disguise things they can\u2019t fix with whatever\u2019s at hand. Large area rugs cover rips in vinyl flooring<\/a> or stains on hardwood. Artwork hangs over wall cracks and holes, and strategically placed trash cans hide exterior foundation cracks.<\/p>\n A sofa or other large furniture can hide moisture damage, mold, mildew<\/a>, and other structural issues. Does that piece look like it\u2019s always been there?<\/p>\n People sometimes \u201chelpfully\u201d prop open doors with a doorstop to prevent someone from noticing that it doesn\u2019t close or hang properly, Steinhausen said.<\/p>\n These can mask odors of nicotine, mold, pets, and other musty smells that a homebuyer might not detect until a few weeks pass or the weather changes. Ruth Wordelman<\/a>, a top real estate agent in Colorado Springs<\/a>, finds overly scented or fake aromas<\/a> from plug-in air fresheners off-putting. \u201cYou walk into a place and wonder \u2018hmm, I wonder what they\u2019re trying to cover up?\u2019\u201d she said.<\/p>\n What to do:<\/b><\/p>\n Some sellers seem like they\u2019re in a rush to schedule the inspection because they\u2019re eager to know if they have major costs that could affect closing. But an inspection report that shows the inspector couldn\u2019t open the breaker box, check crawl spaces, or climb into the attic indicates there might be something a seller didn\u2019t want them to see.<\/p>\n Steinhausen takes a ladder to inspections because some people remove the attic access \u2014 or otherwise try to dissuade him from checking up there. \u201cOftentimes, the attic access is in a closet, and people will have clothes in there. I don\u2019t move people\u2019s clothes,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n What to do:<\/b><\/p>\n Talk to your real estate agent about having the inspector revisit the property and making all areas accessible<\/a>.<\/p>\n A seller isn\u2019t required to fix every issue<\/a> that you find; however, if the inspection uncovers things the seller didn\u2019t originally disclose or explain in detail, you legally have the right to walk away from the sale<\/a>. You and your agent also can negotiate for the seller to do the repairs or reduce the price so you can handle them yourself.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m all for buying a house, getting a great deal, and putting a little sweat equity into it, but you\u2019ve got to make sure you get that cost absorbed upfront on the purchase,\u201d Vanzant said.<\/p>\n \u201cSome homeowners just like to have projects. In that case, I\u2019m all for it. Let\u2019s go for it. But make a good deal.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\nSeller trick #1: Ignorance is bliss<\/h2>\n
Warning signs<\/b><\/h3>\n
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<\/a>Seller trick #2: Cosmetic cover-ups<\/h2>\n
Warning signs<\/b><\/h3>\n
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Seller trick #3: Downplaying problems<\/h2>\n
Warning signs<\/b><\/h3>\n
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<\/a>Seller trick #4: Camouflaging decor<\/h2>\n
Warning signs<\/b><\/h3>\n
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<\/a>Seller trick #5: Limiting the inspector\u2019s access<\/h2>\n
Warning signs<\/b><\/h3>\n
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Fix it, or forget it?<\/b><\/h3>\n