You’ve found the perfect home while browsing Stillwater real estate and can’t wait to make an offer. You know that nothing will change your mind about purchasing this home because it has everything you want. However, what happens if you have an inspection done and you find that the home has multiple problems? Should you still purchase the home? Is an inspection really necessary? Can you make the seller fix everything before you agree to buy the home? Because each real estate transaction is unique, you should work closely with your agent and sellers to negotiate a contract that takes the inspection into consideration.
Never Forfeit an Inspection
It’s never a good idea to forfeit an inspection. Even if the buyers tell you that everything in the home is fine, you really need a professional inspector to evaluate the current condition of the home and create a report. Even newer homes can have problems, and if you forfeit an inspection then you risk having costly near future repairs. While you don’t legally have to have an inspection when buying Stillwater real estate, it can help you when it comes time to negotiate the selling price.
Inspectors Conduct Important Testing
A home inspector does more than just make sure the windows work. An inspector will look for signs of a termite problem, can conduct septic testing, and perform radon testing. It’s a good idea to attend the home inspection and discuss the findings with the inspector. It’s a way for you to see your home through someone else’s eyes, and decide if a certain component of the inspection will cause you to keep looking at available Stillwater real estate or just try to negotiate a lower selling price.
Negotiating with the Seller
In some cases, you can negotiate with the seller to either fix the problems or reduce the selling price. If something is merely cosmetic, you will have to negotiate if you want the seller to repair or replace it. However, if the problem is structural, the seller may need to fix the problem before being able to legally sell the home. Only an inspector can tell you if a problem requires a mandatory repair by the seller, but knowing the optional things can help you and your real estate agent determine if you need to go harder with the selling price negotiations.
