You finally found that cute home you want to buy… and your agent reminds you to hire a professional to get a home inspection done… which is the smart move ensuring you are not buying into a money pit.

And then you receive the written report… which is this thick volume containing numerous and huge home inspection photos… 
with lengthy and alarmist notations written in red ink… most of which you do not understand… the kind of report that makes even the tiniest problems look like massive ones?!

Here is how to avoid the shock…

Before the home inspection takes place make sure to sit down with your agent and learn about the process. You also need to attend the inspection… following the inspector around… letting him explain in his own words what is going on… what is minor and what is not… and how it should be addressed… before he puts it in his reporting program which can make minor things look like terrible problems.

Don’t panic, but be prepared… 

Keep in mind that he is being paid by you to be very, very nit-picky… but again, a good inspector will also point out at the time of inspection what are minor and what are major problems… how they do or don’t affect the structure and the bottom line… and how they can be fixed. 

Your agent will also be in attendance and should take note of real problems. Serious problems should always be brought up by your agent to the seller to have them corrected… or should be used to re-negotiate the purchase price accordingly.

Keep in mind, there is almost nothing that cannot be fixed… or solved…