Who Pays For Home Inspection

If it’s your first time purchasing a property, you may not be familiar with each part of the buying process. For instance, it’s not always clear who is responsible for paying some of the fees incurred during the transaction.

Generally, transfer tax and agent commission are the responsibility of the seller, but there’s often some confusion over who pays for home inspection.

While it may seem logical that the seller should pay for the inspection because it’s in their best interest to demonstrate the property they’re selling is up to scratch, in most cases, the buyer will schedule and cover the expense.

In this post, we’ll clarify the main facts surrounding home inspections andexplain why they’re worth the pricewhy, as the buyer, you should schedule them as soon as possible.

What is a home inspection?

A home inspection is a visual examination of a home that confirms its overall structural integrity and the condition of its main systems. It covers the following areas:

• Exterior and interior
• Roof structure
• Electrical system
• Plumbing
• HVAC system

The inspection may also include other appliances on the property such as the washing machine or dishwasher.

The inspector will include the findings in a comprehensive written report outlining potential problems. That way, you can ascertain whether the home is worth the investment and potentially even lower the price to account for the repair costs.

Are specialized inspections worth it?

In addition to a regular home inspection, you can invest in specialized inspections that check for the presence of specific issues. While such checkups can cover additional areas such as pools, inspections that focus on safety and health concerns are highly recommended. These include:

• Asbestos inspection
• Radon
• Mold
• Pests
• Wood destroying organisms (WDOs)
• Septic system inspection
• Wind mitigation

How much do inspections generally cost?

To get an accurate quote on a home inspection, your best bet is to reach out to a home inspector. The price of a home inspection can vary depending on several factors, some of which are:

• Geographic location of the home
• Size of the home
• Layout of the home
• Age of the home
• Inspector’s level of expertise
• Overall scope of the service

It’s also worth noting that the prices of specialized inspections can vary. The good news is that you can bundle specialized inspections with regular ones to achieve a lower price.

Why the buyer pays for a home inspection

So, on to the question of who pays for home inspection.

As we already briefly mentioned, the buyer will schedule and pay for the home inspection because it’s in their best interest to verify the condition of the property. They cover these costs out of pocket because the price of the inspection isn’t included with closing fees or mortgage payments.

Considering the benefits of ordering a home inspection, the miniscule investment is more than worth it.

When a seller should pay for the inspection

Even though the seller may not pay for this service directly, any negotiations that occur afterward could bring the price down, sometimes to account for the price of the inspection.

Sellers may also order a pre-listing inspection. This service can help them find issues with the property before listing it, eliminating the chances of a buyer’s inspection finding any problems that could jeopardize the sale.

Who pays for the repairs?

Who pays for home inspection is a relatively straightforward question. However, there’s another matter that you may be confused about:

Who pays for the repairs?

If an inspection reveals an issue that requires remediation, the selling process may continue, but only if the damage is repaired.

Who pays will ultimately depend on the following factors:

• Real estate market conditions

If the number of listed houses outweighs the demand, the seller may take the bill for the repairs to discourage the buyer from looking at another property. If the opposite market conditions are true, the buyer can pay for the home to lock down the sale.

• Negotiating skills

Who pays for the repairs also depends on your or your real estate agent’s negotiation skills.

• Nature of the repairs

Even if the inspection reveals various defects, the seller may only be open to paying for some of the repairs.

For example, if a home has several blown-out light fixtures and a broken HVAC system, it’s better to negotiate for the seller to pay for the AC, leaving you to address the issue with the light fixtures.

• The offer contract

An average inspection contingency allows the buyer to back out of the deal if the inspections come up with poor results. This provides you with more leverage in negotiations.

In case you don’t include this contingency in your contract, you’re required to purchase the property “as is”. Since there is less pressure on the seller in this scenario, they’re less likely to agree to cover the repairs.

Buy a home with an extra level of confidence

While not required by the law, the benefits of scheduling a home inspection are apparent enough to make them absolutely essential.

Don’t worry about who pays for home inspection, as this service can save you money, provide peace of mind, and keep you safe. Sellers may not even know that there are issues on their property, making the inspection ultimately beneficial for both parties involved.

But who should you hire?

Don’t settle for the first inspector you find. Research prospects online, read customer reviews, and ask several home inspection companies for a quote. Although you may want to save money, hiring an experienced inspector (who usually charges more) provides an extra layer of protection as rookie inspectors often overlook glaring issues that could later turn into hefty repairs.

This is why you should hire the experts at Guardian Angel Inspections.

Our inspectors have all the qualifications and years of experience under their belt, but we still try to charge a realistic price for our services. Customer service is everything for us and we believe each citizen in Palm Beach County should be allowed to work with an award-winning inspection company.

Schedule an inspection by dialing 561-512-7854 or filling out our contact form.