Raleigh Residential Real Estate – Questions and Answers on Making an Offer to Purchase
Home Inspections -Â Part One
When making an offer to purchase in the Raleigh area of NC or any other area in North Carolina, there is usually the opportunity to do a home inspection. In the standard Offer to Purchase and Contract that is used by most Raleigh, NC Realtors® there are protections for the buyer. Under section 13 there are two alternatives that provide for a home inspection as a part of the Offer to Purchase. Normally the inspections are paid for by the buyer.
What is a home inspection?
A home inspection is performed by a home inspector that is licensed by the North Carolina Licensure Board. The home inspection is an evaluation of the visible and reachable systems and components of a home. These would include the plumbing, the electrical system, cooling and heating systems, the roof, garage doors and operators, etc. The systems and components are to be “performing the function for which they were intended and not in need of immediate repair.†It is not a guarantee that the systems will not fail in the future, or that the home meets the local building codes as they are subject to change.
Why should you have a Raleigh, NC Home Inspected?
A seller may choose to do a home inspection to alert them of problems that could come up later with the sale of the home. It allows them to have the necessary repairs made without being under the time pressure of a contract.
Most home buyers do not have the experience or expertise to evaluate all of the systems and components of a home. By using the services of a licensed home inspector they can better determine the condition of the home they are purchasing. Depending upon which of the alternatives is chosen in the Offer to Purchase and Contract, the buyer may request that repairs be done or the buyer can have the option to terminate the contract with a refund of earnest monies. I will discuss these options in a future post.
The North Carolina Real Estate Commission has published a consumer friendly brochure on this topic. You can find this on The Poling Team website at:Â Questions and Answers on Home Inspections or you can send an email to Art Poling at and I will be happy to send you a printed copy of the brochure absolutely free with no obligation. Please remember to include your address.