Alright so you just completed your home inspection and had the walkthrough done. You are sitting at home on your couch and begin to look through your report. A sudden feeling of dread comes in. Holy cow, you see that there are 65 items on this report! You think to yourself, “What  is going on with this house? Am I buying a lemon? Is all this normal?” These feelings are normal and yes it is overwhelming. A full home inspection is very detailed and thorough. In this post, I will talk about some of the items that can feel like a potential deal breaker and what could be done.

Note: I’m not a licensed Realtor®. Please talk with your  Realtor® before making decisions. Everyone’s risk tolerance is different; what’s minor to one buyer can be major to another.

Now there are a few things that I have found that tend to bring pause to a lot of clients in the past. Let’s break them down and talk about how they could be remedied. 

High Radon Levels

Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that can be found in every home. According to the EPA, exposure to high levels (4 pCi/L or higher) of radon can lead to cancer. The only way to know what the radon level is in your home is to test. There are many options for testing, both long term and short term testing. During a home purchase transaction, most buyers opt for a short term (48 hour) test. This gives the buyer a glimpse of what the Radon level is within that home and can help determine if a mitigation system is needed. 

After testing, if the radon level is above the 4 pCi/L limit, mitigation is recommended. A radon mitigation system generally consists of a PVC pipe that is placed in a suction pit below the floor or foundation of your home. That PVC pipe is then attached to a special fan that will continually draw air from below the foundation of the home to the exterior of the home. Marigold Home Services offers testing and mitigation options for homeowners. 

Lots of Little Things

When was the last time you took a deep look at every aspect of your home? Well, during a home inspection we get into a lot of areas that haven’t been seen in a while. The thing we find may have been items that were on a  “honey-do” list that just never got done. We’ve all been there. Sometimes seeing a whole list of things can feel overwhelming and it can be daunting to tackle those tasks. Some of those items could include loose outlets, dead or expired smoke detectors, loose handrails, door issues, lock replacement, loose siding, or damaged trim or drywall. These all can feel like it will never end. Thankfully there are options for this. A lot of these items can be taken care of with a great Handyman. There are times when a specialist is needed, think electrical or plumbing, but a lot of the time, a handyman can take care of it. 

Home Inspection Cost

Maybe you are considering not getting a home inspection done because of the cost. It feels like it’s just one more thing to pay for. The thought of moving already sounds expensive and to spring another $500+ feels like too much. I know I am biased, but getting a home inspection is always worth the money. It is rare to find someone who regrets getting a home inspection on a home they are wanting to purchase. 

Final Thoughts

Some final thoughts for you. Purchasing a home can be a stressful time in any person’s life. A home inspection is there to help you know your potential home better. Though it is just a snap shot in time, it does give a glimpse into the condition of your home. Also, a credible home inspector shouldn’t push you to do anything you are not comfortable with. Need a flexible payment option? Pay at closing or financing may be an option for you depending on the services you choose. If the inspection finds issues within the home that you are not comfortable with, make sure you speak with your Realtor® to talk through all the options.