One big benefit to a home inspection for your Tampa home is the leverage it gives you when it comes time to negotiate. Any major areas of concern be worked into your contract, if approached the right way. There are the obvious things you shouldn’t ask for, but a lot of what is found in a home inspection can be reasonably repaired by the seller without compromising the purchase of the home in Tampa. We’ve put together three common repair requests that you can make if these issues turn up on during your Tampa home inspection.
Pests
If your inspection turns up signs of termites, which is a common problem in the wood-frame homes of Florida, you can and should work with your real estate agent to ask the seller to fumigate. Unnoticed, termites can wreak havoc and leave the frame of your home in shambles, thereby causing extensive damage. Requesting that the home be tented prior to closing is a reasonable, and common request that buyers make if the inspection shows significant signs of pest damage.
Electrical
While electrical repairs are typically costly, there are a few areas you can ask the seller to repair without too much of fuss. Something like a new electrical panel is something you want to consult the seller on. Many older electrical panels are fire hazards, and can even be considered uninsurable by some home owners insurance companies; asking the seller to replace this would not be an unheard of request and could save you thousands of dollars in work costs.
Roof
The roof is the most common area that, if requested to be replaced or repaired, may threaten the purchase of your new home. Replacing a roof is an expensive endeavor, but one that is extremely important as most new home owners don’t want to replace the roof in their first year of ownership. If your home inspection turns up that the roof has only 1-2 years left, if not less, consult the seller and see if they will replace it or give you a credit so that you can replace it yourself. You may not get a credit for the full replacement cost, but this can help reduce your expenses significantly.
Asking for repairs from a seller may not be everyone’s favorite part of buying a new home, but if done right it can save you thousands of dollars. Use your home inspection report to your advantage as you get close to closing time and see if your seller is willing to negotiate. Need an inspection? Call Radiant Property Inspections today!