Purchasing a home is an exciting, yet stressful time. It seems like there are many obstacles in your way from the time you put in an offer to the time you sign closing papers. There are a couple of these hurdles that always have the buyers and sellers holding their breath until it’s over, and the home inspection is one of them. In fact, sometimes, the sellers are so worried about it, that they use some tricks to try and ensure the home “passes” the test. Lifeline Home Inspections is here to talk about some of the tricks that sellers try and pull to ensure the home will pass the home inspection.
Selling Not Disclosing Problems with House
When it comes to selling a home, a seller can be liable for any of the issues in the home that they aren’t up front about. While this is true, it can be difficult to prove the seller knew anything was wrong before they sold the home. That’s why you need to watch for any signs that a seller may be hiding something. Here are a couple of the signs you should be aware of.
– Trouble Remembering Home Details: Usually, a homeowner is incredibly eager to show off the renovations that have been done to the home they are trying to sell. When something is amiss though, they can often act like they have no recollection of how that could have happened. This usually happens if a renovation wasn’t done right.
– No Disclosure Form: Almost all real estate contracts include with them an owner’s disclosure form. This lays out a property’s age and description including structural defects, pest problems and even lead paint or asbestos.
Cosmetic House Cover Ups
There are many ways a seller may try and cover up problems in their home using a large variety of cosmetic sources. For instance, if there are cracks in the walls, sellers may try to hide them with a fresh coat of paint or even paneling, hoping that buyers and the home inspector won’t notice. If you notice there have been some major renovations done in certain parts of the house, ask the sellers why they decided to do them. Hopefully they haven’t done it because they were trying to hide something.
Furniture Hiding Problems During Home Inspection
There are many ways to hid problems using home décor. Whether they are using artwork to cover up cracks in the walls or area rugs to hide major damage to the hardwood flooring, you want to be leery of any furniture or décor that looks somewhat out of place. You should also be suspicious when you walk into a home that has been freshened up with air fresheners or candles. They could be hiding mold and mildew issues.
Buyer, Seller Pre-Inspection & Maintenance Home Inspections in Griffin, Peachtree City, Fayetteville, Newnan, Zebulon, Thomaston, Douglasville & Metro Atlanta, GA
If you are looking for an inspection company that has the ability to look past and uncover all the tricks that sellers try to use to achieve a clear looking home inspection, call on Lifeline Home Inspections today!
