You have an accepted offer on your Baton Rouge home. Now the fun begins! It’s time for home inspections. Let me warn you now that this may most likely be the most stressful part of your home buying experience.
With the right agent by your side, they can let you know what items on the inspector’s report are common and can be an easy fix and which items may be a bit more costly.
What Inspections do you need?
- General Home Inspection – These inspections vary in price based on the square footage of the home, whether it is on a slab or pier and beam, and how many HVAC units are in the home. You should budget for an average of $425.00
- Termite Inspection – Most home inspectors are offering this service now. Some provide it at no extra cost, while others will charge for it. We see a range of $95.00 – $150.000 for this service.
- Video Pipe Inspection – These are not as prevalent here as they are in the New Orleans area but highly advised in some areas of town. Mid-City is one of those areas. Some of those homes are very old, and a video pipe inspection may tell you a bit more than what a general inspector can see.
What Exactly Is A Home Inspection?
The purpose of a home inspection is like a general checkup for the health of the home. The inspector is looking for Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing issues that the seller either has not disclosed or most likely doesn’t know to exist.
What Kind Of Issues Are Found In A Home Inspection?
A few of the most common items we see on the home inspection report are dirty HVAC coils, loose commodes, electrical outlets not protected by GFCI, and slow drains.
We will warn you, be ready for anything. There have been inspections that we thought would be a breeze come back with a laundry list of items. Anything can happen during the inspection period!
Can I Ask The Seller To Make Repairs?
Absolutely! After your home inspection, you will receive a report from the inspector. The report will show a list of what the inspector deems to be deficiencies. We will review that report and decide which is the best course of action. We may ask the seller to make repairs. We may ask for them to reduce the sales price. We may ask for an allowance in place of the repairs in the form of closing assistance. We may even decide that the repairs are something you can handle and accept the house in its current condition. You can be assured though that we will talk with you about which route is the best for you.
Can I Get Quotes On The Repairs Needed?
Of course, you can! We even encourage it. Above all, our objective is for you to be protected throughout this process and will help you with the quotes if you need them. As a Baton Rouge real estate agent, we deal with many contractors daily and can help get you in contact with the right people for the job.
Need A Recommendation For An Inspector?
Contact us, and we will be happy to share a few of our favorites!
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