Hello!
Whether you're a first time homebuyer or a 7th time home buyer we find that it never hurts to be totally prepared for one the most important and sometimes intimidating parts of buying a home, the Inspection Contingency.
This key step is your opportunity to explore every nook and cranny of your future home. Think of it as getting acquainted with the home on a deeper level. It can raise a lot of questions and lead to a lot of concerns if you don't have the right filters of how to interpret the information. The good news is, we have read so many inspection reports in our days and have a lot of experience in negotiation. That coupled with our library of trusted contractors, we'll be there to help get you answers, making sure you feel comfortable moving forward and hopefully saving you thousands of dollars in a bad purchase.
Here is a synopsis of the 4 inspections we recommend and how much they generally cost:
1. General Home Inspection: $400 - $500
Your home inspector will methodically move through the home conducting various tests, taking measurements, and assessing the various systems’ conditions and components. Throughout the inspection and further detailed in the home inspection report, your inspector will highlight any defects they come across, both minor and significant. Every home will have some defects found during the inspection, but many minor defects won’t impact the transaction, such as normal wear and tear. What we are mainly looking for here are things that will affect your heath and safety. If any such major defects arise, we will work together to plan your next move and negotiations.
2. Sewer Scope: $100-$175
A sewer scope inspection gives you an inside look into a home’s sewer lines. When it comes to sewer lines, we've seen it all, root intrusion, material defects, broken pipes and more. Some are easy fixes and some can set you back quite a bit which is why we recommend this inspection to ensure everything is functioning properly.
Story Time. We had a client who was in the process of buying a new construction home. They followed our advice and conducted all 4 inspections, even though it was brand new. During the sewer scope inspection, an issue was discovered, allowing us to negotiate for it to be fixed before the purchase. We're telling you- even though it is brand new does NOT mean it's free from defects.
3. Radon Test: $100-$175
What is radon? You can’t see it, you can’t smell it, but it’s dangerous. Breathing in high levels of radon can raise your risk of lung cancer. Radon comes naturally from rocks and dirt in the ground. There’s always some radon in the air around us, but the problem is when radon gas from underneath a home leaks in through cracks or gaps causing to much of it to build up inside. This simple and affordable test can check radon levels and if it comes out high, a mitigation system can be installed to fix the problem.
4. Oil Tank Search: $100-$175
An oil tank search is an important step in order to find out if there is a buried underground fuel oil tank on the property. Over time, and due to a variety of factors like corrosion or damage, tanks can wear out to the point where the walls are compromised and permit oil to contaminate soil and groundwater. Discovered leaking oil tanks will set the Oregon DEQ into motion, and suddenly the homeowner will become responsible for a certified decommissioning.
While this might seem overwhelming at first, it's all about making sure you're fully prepared. From our experience, most issues that come up in an inspection are either fixable or negotiable. The goal is to present you with all your options, empowering you to make the most informed decision for you and your new home.
Amy, Kristine and Margo - The Place Portland Team
