A home inspection report is not a required repair list comes from an opinion post by Barry Stone in The Oaklahoman.

People write into Barry and ask for advice, and his answer to this one really spoke to me, so I wanted to share.

The person writing into Barry says that they had a home inspection on a house they were intending to buy, and that the inspector was very thorough. The seller apparently refused to make any repairs, and this upset the writer. His question to Barry, “If the seller is not obligated to repair defects, then what’s the point of having a home inspection?”

The first paragraph of Barry’s response is a very good one:

Your question reveals a common misunderstanding about the purpose of a home inspection. Homebuyers often regard an inspection report as a repair list for sellers, but sellers are not required to provide a flawless house. Unless specified in the purchase contract or required by state or municipal law, they have no obligation to make repairs.

Continuing on:

The primary objective is to inform you of the condition of the property so that you know what you are buying before you buy it.

Barry really touched on a few important issues when it comes to home inspections.

  1. No house is perfect. Every house has flaws.
  2. A seller is not obligated to make all repairs on the house.
  3. A home inspection is to inform the buyer of the condition of the property.

Depending on what a buyer’s contract with the seller says, some repairs may be negotiable, and a seller may consider making some repairs.

It is good for a buyer to understand the purpose of a home inspection – and to learn about the house they intend to buy!

If you are considering buying a home in Towson, Baltimore, and the surrounding areas, please contact me. I would love to help guide you through the process of buying a home!