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When most buyers are putting together an offer for a home, they are flying high thanks to the bank´s approval of their mortgage application. They may not be paying attention to page after page of lawyer-speak that goes into a complete offer to buy a home. But there is one clause that every buyer should include, no matter what.
For the protection of the buyer, every home offer should come with a clause that says the purchase of the home is contingent on a full and complete inspection of the new home, inside and out.
Why? Even to the trained eye, there can be many serious problems with a home that can´t be seen at a quick glance. This clause protects the buyer from buying a lemon. There are no laws that give refunds if the buyer feels taken advantage of after the sale so you must protect yourself and inserting this clause into your offer does just that. Let´s take a closer look at why this inspection clause is so important.
The inspection is done by a professional. They are an innocent third party that doesn´t care either way if the sale goes through so you can count on them to be objective and honest, no matter what. They are also trained and, most likely, experienced at what they do, so they know exactly what to look for. They know what the first signs of water damage and other serious problems look like that most people would overlook. They know what a possible leaky roof would look like and they have a knack for knowing when a seller is hiding something. All and all, the inspector is your best friend during a home sale because they are going to steak their reputation on the fact that the home you´re going to buy is in top shape.
Maybe the best reason to include the inspection clause in your offer is so that he or she can check for bugs. If you are moving into a home that is even partially made of wood, you need to look for termites. And the little buggers are harder to find then you might think. But lucky for you, your inspector has been trained to look for all the warning signs of a possible infestation. If termites are found, you have two choices. Since you used the inspection clause, you now have the right to completely withdraw your offer with no penalty. Or, you can ask that the seller calls an exterminator that has a warranty that guarantees that the home will remain termite free over a certain period of time or they will come and spray again at no charge to you. Depending on your level of interest in the home, you have several options available.
There are also many other potential pitfalls that can be found in a home, especially if the home is older or if you suspect that it wasn´t built as well as it could have been. You have wiring problems that could cause a fire if not inspected correctly. Obviously, no one wants to buy a home that´s a fire trap, but buying a home blindly without an objective inspection is basically buying blind. By including the inspection clause in your offer, it not only protects the buyer, but it even protects the seller. If the seller were to sell their home and then a short time later, something happened and someone was injured or even killed because of a defect, the buyer could sue, saying that the seller knew of this problem and didn´t disclose it because they were worried they would have to pay to fix it or they wouldn´t be able to sell the home. This is extremely illegal and it is taken very seriously by the criminal court system. By requiring a full, third-party inspection, you are not only protecting yourself, you might just be protecting the seller from their own bad judgment.
Including a third-party inspection clause in your purchase of a beautiful Sarasota home should be a no-brainer. Everyone wants a piece of Sarasota FL real estate, but you shouldn´t rush into anything and buy a home site unseen. By using this clause you are protecting everyone involved, and that can only be a good thing.
GBrey | 