Why A Final Inspection Is Necessary

In the sales contract, the sellers of your new home agreed to leave all the light fixtures, custom blinds, and refrigerator. When you walk in the home on moving day, to your surprise, all of those things are gone. In addition, the locks on the back door are broken; there is a huge stain on the living room carpet, and the garage opener doesn't work.

Although this may be extreme, it could happen, which is why it is important to have a final inspection of the home you are purchasing before the closing. A pre-closing inspection gives you one last opportunity to verify that you are getting all that was promised in the sales contract. Although buyers still have legal recourse if they discover-even after closing-that the condition of the home is not as it should be. The best time to identify problems is before closing when the seller will be motivated to correct any deficiencies in order to close the transaction.

Typically, a buyer takes possession of a property one to three months after signing the sales agreement. But, a lot can happen before the actual move-in. Appliances and fixtures can break down, and walls, carpets and doors can be damaged during the seller's move-out. Sometimes the seller will simply have forgotten that he or she has agreed to leave the refrigerator or window coverings with the house. Whatever the reason, problems identified before the closing have the best chance of being remedied.

If possible, schedule the inspection right before the closing, such as the day before. Ask your real estate professional to attend the inspection with you. What should you be inspecting? Using a copy of the sales contract as a checklist, first make sure that all items that should be in place (appliances, built-in furniture, window coverings, fixtures, etc.) are there.

Test each appliance to make sure they work properly. Bring along an electrical clock or radio to test each electrical outlet. Test all electrical switches and the garage door opener, if there is one. Run the garbage disposal and turn on every water faucet, checking under the sinks for leaks. Flush the toilets. Inspect the floors, carpets, walls and doors for recent damage.

If you discover that something is damaged or missing, make a note of it and inform your real estate professional immediately. In most cases, the seller is usually able to take care of small problems immediately, either by making a needed repair or offering compensation to handle it. And, if there are major problems, the seller can even sign a statement acknowledging the deficiency and agree to correct it. Although pre-closing inspections take time and may be inconvenient, they are important and well worth the buyer's time.

Neda Dabestani-Ryba is a licensed Realtor in Maryland. She is a member of the President's Circle of Top Real Estate Professionals. She can be reached at (800) 536-3806 or visit her website for more information: http://neda.dabestani.pcragent.com/ Prudential Carruthers REALTORS is an independently owned and operated member of Prudential Real Estate Affiliates, Inc., a Prudential Financial company. Equal Housing Opportunity.

---

A Few Easy Ways To Take The Headache Out Of Moving

Moving from one house to another is always a challenge,... Read More

Salt Lake City Real Estate

From the mountains to the valley, there are many types... Read More

Real Estate Research By Talking

Real estate research might start with a look at the... Read More

The Real Estate Bubble-When Will it Burst?

More and more individuals are realizing that real estate is... Read More

Young Couple Buys Ranch with Government Money

Kirk and Tina Sczepanik had a dream. They wanted a... Read More

Real Estate Season is Here

Yes, it has finally arrived. This is the time of... Read More

The Key to Real Estate Investing Success Revealed!

How did you get into real estate investing? Did you... Read More

Sellers, Are You Having A Hard Time Selling Your Home?

Sue and Chuck DeFiore have the perfect solution for you... Read More

Selling by Owner Tips

Do strangers scare or intimidate you? If you're planning to... Read More

Refinancing Your Home Loan? When Should You Refinance Your Home?

If you have a current mortgage and are unhappy with... Read More

Buying Overseas Property

Fourteen Top Tips for Overseas Property Investment:1. Buy what you... Read More

Mancos Real Estate

Real estate: availability and costIn 2000, the median home value... Read More

Investment Real Estate: An Inexpensive Way To Get Started

If you are considering getting involved in investment real estate,... Read More

Real Estate Investing Requires Education

I really believe in getting an education in real estate... Read More

Real Estate Investing - Books,TV Infomercials, and Seminars

Real estate investing has become popularized today because of real... Read More

Look Past the Bottom Line for a Propertys Potential

It's unfortunate that many real estate investors tend to look... Read More

Is It Wise to Take My Home Off the Market for the Holidays?

Let's say you've had your home on the market for... Read More

Protective Covenants ? Buying A Home

In addition to zoning, some properties have covenants recorded at... Read More

Real Estate Investing in Rentals ? the $10 Million Real Estate Investing Mistake

Renting to tenants is no longer "where the money is"... Read More

If You Cant Afford to Retire...Move

According to Warren Bland, PhD, an award-winning author and geographer... Read More

Boom or Bust

For those looking to invest in the real estate market?keep... Read More

According To Sellers, Silence Isnt Always Golden?

When trying to sell a home, silence isn't always golden... Read More

Thinking About Selling Your Home?

Owning a home is the original American dream. It's the... Read More

Good Faith Deposit ? Real Estate Transactions

In a real estate transaction, a touchy issue is how... Read More

How To Get More Money For Your House

If you are thinking about selling your house, you should... Read More

Property Investing Secrets 6

Property Investing Secrets:What No One Ever Tells You-How Real Estate... Read More

Buying Outer Banks (OBX) Investment Property

So, you're thinking of purchasing a rental property... Read More

Flipping Fixers: Using Transformation Psychology for Top Dollar

Satisfying and lucrative real estate investment depends upon your correct... Read More

6 REASONS for Investing in Florida Real Estate Investment Property NOW

I invite you to take the next few minutes to... Read More

Coming to Las Vegas ? the Las Vegas Real Estate Boom

Nobody seems to be 'Leaving Las Vegas' anymore ? in... Read More

Getting Raw Land, Not a Raw Deal!

There is more to buying raw land than meets the... Read More

Real Estate Investment - One Simple Formula

I saw the ads in our small-town newspaper for years... Read More

Purchasing Property With No Money Down: My Personal Experience

Have you ever seen those infomercials about buying houses with... Read More