You’re paying for a professional home inspection, so you have every right to attend. Some buyers might worry that they’ll be in the way. And some probably feel too busy. But inspectors in North Carolina not only welcome their customers to watch and learn, they expect it. And it’s been that way for about 20 years.
You Hire the Inspector so You Call the Shots
In most cases, you, the buyer, hire the home inspector and pay the fee. If you want to attend the home inspection, most home inspectors have no problem with it.
Some inspectors might balk. But in North Carolina, most don’t. That’s according to Allen Norwood, home & garden columnist for the Charlotte Observer.
Although the house still belongs to the seller, the whole purpose of an inspection is to discover what you’re buying. The best way to do that is to be there, follow the inspector, and ask questions as the inspection takes place.
Even a Little Time on Site is Better Than None
Don’t worry if you don’t have enough time to stay through the whole inspection. If you can only pencil in a few minutes, you’ll most likely learn something you didn’t notice on a walk through.
Julie Tuggle of Carolina Buyer’s Agent tells Norwood that even half an hour at the end of an inspection is better than nothing. With her agency, the buyer’s agent also attends.
That’s enough time to review the report and talk about any issues in person, where it’s easier to avoid confusion. According to Norwood, “[Buyers] should be there to take a closer look at something the inspector wants them to see, to ask questions along the way and to go over the final report.”
Just because you’re on site doesn’t mean you should go into dangerous places.
Stay Alert and Nearby but Don’t Take Risks
Home inspectors will generally discuss with you what they find as they find it. But remember, they’re on the job and need to focus. Try to stay in the same general area as the inspector, but watch out for being underfoot.
Also, leave ladder climbing and crawl space shimmying to the inspector. They’ll take photos of the spaces so you can see the details after they climb down or shimmy back out.
Aside from the risk of injury, the homeowner might take umbrage to the buyer being left to their own devices inside the house. That’s right, the seller doesn’t normally attend a professional home inspection. You can invite them if you like, but you’re by no means required to.
The Report Belongs to You
The inspection report belongs to you, and only to you. You’ll pay a few hundred dollars for it. Nobody in North Carolina will force you to share it with the seller or their agent. But Norwood says most buyers do, at least eventually.
Take a little time to study and review the report. Give the inspector a quick call if you still have questions. Talk with contractors about any defects that the inspector found. Then, if you like, share it with the seller.
The lender will perform an appraisal before the sale is final, and the seller’s agent can access that information. It’s not rude to keep the report to yourself. But if you plan to use it as a bargaining chip for repairs before the sale, the seller and their agent will want proof.
North Carolina buyers have plenty of rights in the home inspection process. The best course of action is to use all of them. The home inspector you hire will do a thorough job, whether or not you attend. But being on site helps put everything into perspective.
If you’re ready to take the next step, Hire an Inspector is ready to help. Let us find a professional North Carolina home inspector near you