Buying a home in Pennsylvania?

If you are buying a home, you know the process can be stressful.. A home inspection is supposed to give you peace of mind, but often has the opposite effect. You will be asked to absorb a lot of information in a short time. This often includes a professional inspection report with digital photographs, environmental reports, and what the inspector himself says during the inspection. All this combined with the seller’s disclosure and what you notice yourself makes the experience even more overwhelming. What should you do? The answer is more simple than you think.

Relax. Most of your inspection will be maintenance recommendations, life expectancies and minor imperfections. These are nice to know about. However, the issues that really matter will fall into three categories:

1. Major defects. An example of this would be a structural failure or electrical safety defects.
2. Moderate defects that can lead to major defects. A wet crawlspace, for example.
3. Maintenance issues that have not been addressed by the seller..

Anything in these categories should be addressed. Often a serious problem can be corrected inexpensively to protect both life and property.

Most sellers are honest and are often surprised to learn of defects uncovered during an inspection. You must realize that sellers are under no obligation to repair everything mentioned in the report. No home is perfect, therefore keep things in perspective. Don’t kill your deal over minor items that don’t matter. It is inappropriate to demand that a seller address conditions already listed on the seller’s disclosure.  In Pennsylvania, you must sign that you received a copy of the seller's disclosure before you made an offer of the home.  You offer is based on your knowledge of those disclosed condition.