4 Home Inspection Mistakes San Diego Homebuyers Make

Homebuying is part of the American dream. In fact, it’s the main way many people build wealth. First-time homebuyers contend with both excitement and anxiety during the process. The Real Estate Inspection Company wants the home buying experience to be a positive one. That’s why we’ve put together this list of home inspection mistakes to avoid when buying a home in San Diego and the surrounding areas.

1. Mistaking General Inspections from Specialty Inspections

Even seasoned homebuyers sometimes lump all home inspections together. Sometimes, they mistakenly believe that all aspects of the home are covered in a general inspection. However, this isn't the case. In actuality, many specialty home inspections exist, some of which are required by law in certain states. Examples of specialty inspections include:

Pool & Spa Inspections (required in California)
Mold Inspections
Sewer Line Inspections
Thermal Imaging
Pest Inspections

Be sure you know which inspections are required. That being said, keep in mind that you still may want to have a specialty inspection that isn't required by law but that applies to your new home. 

2. Catastrophizing the Report Findings

Next up on the list of home inspection mistakes is interpreting a long list of findings as if it's the end of the world. In reality, it depends on what the report contains. One major issue could be more severe than 25 cosmetic or minor issues. For this reason, it's imperative to focus on what's important. If there are major issues that require substantial investment, address those accordingly. Separate what matters into what can easily be repaired at little cost versus major issues, such as a bad roof, faulty furnace, mold, etc. 

3. Forgetting to Reinspect After Repairs

Ideally, the inspection report findings detail challenges, and the buyer and seller decide how to remedy the issues. Remediation could include an extra cut to the buyer to make repairs or repairs completed by the seller before the sale. In either event, the buyer typically makes an agreement and trusts that's the end of the process. Unfortunately, sometimes corners get cut in the process. Additionally, one resolved issue may cause another. Your best bet is to have a reinspection after the repairs to ensure everything meets the standard. 

4. Waiving the Inspection

Recently, homebuyers include waiving the inspection in their purchase offer. This occurs in a hot real estate market where buyers compete with one another. While the desire to have your offer accepted may be strong, this is a trade-off that involves major risk. This is especially true if you overextend on your mortgage payment and thus leave no room for repairs after the purchase. Moreover, some issues, such as radon and mold, can create significant health threats.

Avoiding Mistakes Is Easy

At The Real Estate Inspection Company, we always recommend getting all home inspections that relate to the property you want to buy. San Diego property prices and the surrounding area remain high enough that you don't want to invest in something that will bring you anything other than joy. Be confident in your new purchase by scheduling a home inspection. Call (800) 232-5180 to learn more or schedule online.