What Should My Buyer’s Agent Do For Me During the Home Inspection Timeframe?

 

Hi there! I’m Sarah Maiga, your go to real estate expert & Broker of Maiga Homes Luxury Real Estate.

Today’s topic in our series is: Inspection Pitfalls & FAQs: What Should My Buyer’s Agent Do For Me During the Home Inspection Timeframe?

The Home Inspection is a critical step in every homebuyer’s journey. So much so, that it inspired this entire series! During this video, I’ll be pointing out key actions that your Buyer’s Agent can take to help you feel confident, to gain an understanding of the property and of valuable maintenance tips, and to support you in feeling comfortable with the steps taken following the home inspection. As we go through the many ways in which your Buyer’s Agent can work on your behalf, I’d like to follow a timeline format of: 

• Prior to the home inspection

Let’s begin with the appointment setup and the Buyer’s Agent responsibilities Prior to the home inspection. First and foremost, it is critical that the Buyer’s Agent have a discussion with you to set the scene. This should include:

 

• What exactly is a home inspection?

• Things to expect and what you should be most concerned about?

• What doesn’t the home inspection cover? 

These first few questions are so critical that we’ve dedicated blogs within this series to thoroughly discuss them. I’d encourage you to check out two other blogs on my channel titled “10 Things that Are Commonly Found at a Home Inspection” and “What is & is not covered by a Private Home Inspection?”. Following the general introduction to the home inspection, it’s also important that your Buyer’s Agent help you secure a qualified home inspector, gather an understanding of any ancillary services, and set the stage for any potential red flags. You as the buyer are allowed to use whatever home inspector you would like, but if you are unsure, your agent should be able to recommend 1-2 inspectors that they have worked with before and explain the process of working with them. While we always hope that red flags do not present themselves during the home inspection, it’s quite possible that something unexpected arises. Should something major pop up that requires more due diligence, getting quotes or further evaluation, your Buyer’s Agent should be at a minimum advising you on how to get the information you seek and if they’re a really awesome hands on Buyer’s Agent like myself, they should even have contractors they work with to evaluate the issues. Your agent should be willing to call and coordinate quotes, getting access and helping you understand your options throughout that time frame. For videos on what that process looks like, please check out several of my other videos in this series that cover handling those major issues when they arise. 

Furthermore, when it comes to additional testing beyond the standard home inspection, this could include, but is not limited to radon testing, a sewer scope, a pest inspection, a mold inspection or an inspection for a well or septic system. Along with the home inspector, your Buyer’s Agent should be able to connect you with qualified contractors for quality evaluations. Lastly, it’s the responsibility of the Buyer’s Agent to coordinate access to the property with all parties, while honoring the seller’s wishes for accommodation as well. 

So now that you’re prepped for the home inspection, let’s discuss what your agent should be doing for you during the home inspection. 

Your agent should:

 

1. Either attend in person or call in to get a synopsis from the home inspector prior to receiving the report.
2. Help explain any issues or provide solutions to issues or questions as they arise.
3. Work with the listing agent to get unanswered questions addressed.
4. Ask or seek clarification on items the home inspector covers, but may not be sure or.
5. Ask questions to figure out which issues concern you or may require further due diligence.

Although not all of these apply to every home, it is important that your agent be present, involved and proactive on your behalf.

Finally, let’s discuss reasonable expectations for your Buyer’s Agent- After the home inspection. You will generally receive an electronic report within 24 hours after the home inspection is completed. Your agent may or may not get a copy of the report by default since you are the one paying for it, so it is important to discuss with your agent if you need to send them a copy to review. Once the report is back, your agent may ask you to go through it and send over a list of questions or concerns via email or jump on a conference call to go over the findings together. If there are no issues that require further evaluation or repair, then you can draft up an addendum removing the home inspection.

If there are items that need to be addressed or evaluated then your agent should do the following:

 

1. Connect you with any resources they may have any questions about.
2. Consultation with you to discuss an action plan of who to contact and the process that it will involve.
3. Contact contractors on your behalf to gather information in person or via email.
4. Give advice of work to negotiate what the buyer is looking for within reason.
5. In the event that buyer is dissatisfied or does not want to proceed, supporting them in getting out of the purchase agreement.

There are so many moving pieces to the home inspection piece it is essential you get an experienced Buyer’s Agent on your side to help you manage it and to prevent major unexpected issues after moving in.

I hope I have given you a lot to think about and that you’ve learned a lot from today’s blog. Tune in to the next blog in this series - “How Much is it Going to Cost to Fix a Home’s Major Mechanicals?”

 As always, if you think you may want to make a move in the next year, give me a call and set-up a consultation today as I create custom moving plans for all of my clients up to a year in advance.

And, don’t worry, if I am not able to personally assist you, I am well connected and can refer you to a similarly qualified agent anywhere in the world. In fact, if you haven’t yet had a chance, please check out another one of my videos on “ Why You Should Get a Real Estate Agent Referral for an Agent When Relocating” that will teach you all about how realtor-to-realtor referrals work & what to expect when you ask me for one!

You can also check out my other series on: Relocation, Selling a Home, Buying a Home, New Construction, Downsizing, Buying & Selling Simultaneously & more!

 

Thanks for reading, I’ll see you next time.