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Understand what the inspection may uncover
Home inspections frequently identify issues ranging from routine maintenance to significant defects. Finding a problem does not automatically mean that the sale will fall apart.
The National Association of REALTORS® explains that a standard home inspection may evaluate the structure, exterior, roof, plumbing, electrical systems, heating and air conditioning, interiors, insulation, ventilation, and fireplaces. Additional testing may address conditions such as radon, mold, lead paint, or asbestos.
There are no perfect homes, and not every item in an inspection report carries the same significance.
A loose handrail and a major foundation problem may both appear in a report, but their potential effect on a transaction can be very different. What happens after the inspection depends not only on the findings but also on the terms of the purchase agreement.
Know what can happen after the inspection
If the buyer has an inspection contingency, the purchase agreement may provide several options.
Depending on the contract, a buyer may accept the property, request repairs or a credit, seek additional investigation, renegotiate terms, or terminate the agreement under specified circumstances.
From the seller’s perspective, the decision often requires comparing the cost of resolving an issue with the potential risk and expense of losing the transaction and returning the home to the market.
A relatively modest repair may preserve an otherwise strong transaction. A major structural, environmental, electrical, or mechanical issue may require specialist evaluation and more extensive negotiation.
Evaluate the response strategically
Sellers should avoid diagnosing technical problems themselves. The appropriate contractor, engineer, inspector, environmental professional, or other qualified specialist should evaluate conditions within their area of expertise.
Inspection results can also create disclosure implications if the current transaction does not close. Pennsylvania’s Real Estate Seller Disclosure Law generally addresses disclosure of known material defects and contains specific requirements and exceptions.
Questions about whether a particular condition must be disclosed, or about rights under an inspection contingency, should be directed to a Pennsylvania real estate attorney.
The appropriate response is therefore not automatically “fix everything” or “refuse everything.” It depends on the issue, the contract, the cost, the market, and the strength of the overall transaction.
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