Re-inspection and Repair Guidelines
Re-Inspections and Repairs After a Home Inspection
Because of the detailed nature of our home inspections, you will be likely be provided with a long list of defects that may include relatively minor issues and/or major structural and life safety issues that should be addressed. With our report in hand, you can work with your real estate agent to negotiate your approach to repairs. We have put together the following suggestions based on our experience to help you best navigate repairs and the re-inspection process. Ultimately, it is up to you and your real estate agent to determine the best way to proceed, but these suggestions can help you make this process smoother.
There is also a cottage industry of unscrupulous contractors that do “home inspection repairs” and charge sellers large amounts of money for “repairs” that are rarely done right, leaving both the buyer and the seller feeling cheated. We believe it is best to have the seller fund the repairs so that you can select your own contractors and hold them accountable for any work done.
If the guidelines above are followed, a re-inspection by a home inspector may not be necessary. Having repairs funded rather than completed prior to the completion of the sale will give you more control over the quality of the repair and will give you additional safeguards and protections. Owning a home is a big responsibility, so this is an opportunity to hit the ground running while addressing issues uncovered in your home inspection.
Negotiating repairs and making sure the home is fixed properly can be a contentious process. As unbiased home inspectors, we are in the unique position of having no financial incentive in the outcome of the re-inspection results. We don’t work on commission and we don’t have any financial interest in the outcome of the sale, so we can give you unbiased information that will help you decide how best to proceed. As a mission driven nonprofit home inspection company, we are dedicated to making sure you are able to make safe, financially sound and environmentally friendly housing decisions.
Procedures for a Re-Inspection:
- If a re-inspection is requested, please email the original inspector with a requested time frame and a detailed list of the repairs. This is very important, because we need to know what defects are scheduled to be repaired. We cannot schedule a re-inspection without this information.
- Give your inspector time to schedule a re-inspection. Re-inspections time frames are negotiable, so it important to give yourself and your inspector enough time to properly schedule a re-inspection. Again, do not be pressured into accepting a two-day re-inspection period.
- A re-inspection on average will take an hour depending on the number of defects and repairs that need to be inspected. The more problems that we requested for repair the longer the process may take.
- Re-inspections are $195 per hour with a one hour minimum. This payment should be paid in advance on our website. All re-inspections that are paid for by a third party (i.e. the seller or other party), must be paid for prior to the re-inspection.