Bucks County Real Estate Web Resource

Avoid a Lemon – Bucks County Home Inspections

You want to avoid a lemon, so be sure to hire an experienced Bucks County Home Inspector prior to purchasing. Most contracts are contingent “upon satisfactory building inspection.” This prevents the buyer from getting stuck with a major headache.

A standard Bucks County home inspection is a visual examination of the physical structure and major interior systems of a residential home. An inspection can be likened to a physical exam by a physician; however, it should be clearly understood that a home inspection is not to be confused with an appraisal, a building code inspection, a guarantee of any kind, and/or an insurance policy on the condition of the property.

During an inspection, the Bucks County inspector will review the readily accessible exposed portions of the structure of the home, including the roof, the attic, walls, ceilings, floors, windows, doors, basement, and foundation as well as the heating/air conditioning systems, interior plumbing and electrical systems for potential problems.

Bucks County home inspections will not point out every small problem or any invisible or latent defect in a home. Most minor or cosmetic flaws, for example, should be apparent to the buyer without the aid of a professional.

A Bucks County home inspector is typically hired by the potential buyer right after the offer to purchase contract is signed, prior to executing the final purchase and sales agreement. However, before the potential buyer signs the offer to purchase contract, he/she should be sure that there is an inspection clause in the contract making the purchase obligation contingent upon the findings of a professional home inspection. This clause should specify the terms to which both the buyer and seller are obligated.

While not necessary, it is recommended that the buyer be present for the inspection. This allows the buyer to observe the inspector, ask questions directly, and obtain a better understanding of the condition of the home, how its systems work, and how to maintain it. The written report may be easier to understand if the buyer was present during the inspection.

At the conclusion of the Bucks County home inspection, the buyer should be well informed of the condition of the Bucks County home. It should be known if there are visible, apparent problems, if repairs need to be made, or whether or not there are any risks of concealed damage, and whether further investigation is recommended and/or required.