Inspections remove the mystery from buying a home. They let you go in clear-eyed about what needs attention now and what can wait, and they hand you a maintenance roadmap for the years after closing.
What an inspector does
A general inspector reviews the roof, structure, foundation, grading, plumbing, electrical, heating and cooling, insulation, and visible signs of water intrusion. It's a visual inspection of what's accessible. They don't open walls.
What they don't cover
Sewer lines, chimneys, wells, septic systems, radon, and pests are separate specialists. In a lot of Spokane neighborhoods we recommend a sewer scope alongside the general inspection, since tree roots and old lines are common and expensive.
What we do
- Find you a trustworthy inspector if you don't have one
- Walk the inspection with you and help you understand the findings
- Sort what matters from what doesn't
- Negotiate repairs or credits with the seller
Reading the report
Every report looks alarming the first time. Fifty items is normal. We sort them into three buckets: safety and structure, deferred maintenance to budget for, and cosmetic.
Your three options afterward
1. Accept the home as-is. 2. Accept with conditions, usually repairs or a credit in the form of a reduced price. We negotiate this for you. 3. Terminate the contract and we go find another home.
Co-Founder & Managing Broker, The Schoenrock Griffith Group. Get in touch