Is a home inspection needed
- Thread starter stugotsms
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Few, if any people get home inspections for a condo apartment. Not likely needed.stugotsms said:
You would like to review the condo documents. Check where your parking space is, etc.
Get the inspection, don't even think twice about it. You see how fast new homes/condos go up, right? New homes have lots of problems due to shoddy workmanship. Its always better to find out what you've gotten yourself in to.
Compare the cost of your condo to the cost of a home inspection. Do you think this is a worthwhile investment.
If you are "mechanically challenged", like I am,I would not skip the inspection.
Unlesss you have a good friend, that is in construction,that could help you, but even that is a stretch.
If you are "mechanically challenged", like I am,I would not skip the inspection.
Unlesss you have a good friend, that is in construction,that could help you, but even that is a stretch.
Waste of $
Home inspections are great for a house, so if you're buying a condo townhouse, go for it. For an apartment, there's not much an inspector would be able to do except check to see how your floors, plumbing etc... are holding up. Do you think the inspector would walk you through the entire common areas of the building, check the foundations and roof etc.? Not likely. Do you really need someone to check the state of the applicances, plumbing, and windows for you?
Remember you're buying the unit only which may or may not include a balcony, if you have one, plus a proportionalte share of the common elements.
Best to require that the deal remain conditional on your lawyer looking at a current Status Certificate provided by the seller (cost is $100). This would let you know whether there are any anticipated major repairs not covered by the condo corp.'s reserve fund, which you could get dinged for. You might also want to require that a second status certificate be provided which is current as of the month of closing (esp. if your closing is several months away), so you can check if any info has changed.
Basically, the older the building the more likely major repairs are coming up. Also, some buildings near the lake have experienced unexpected amounts of structural damage in the foundations which have led to special assessments being levied.
An inspector would be unlikely to discover much of this.
Home inspections are great for a house, so if you're buying a condo townhouse, go for it. For an apartment, there's not much an inspector would be able to do except check to see how your floors, plumbing etc... are holding up. Do you think the inspector would walk you through the entire common areas of the building, check the foundations and roof etc.? Not likely. Do you really need someone to check the state of the applicances, plumbing, and windows for you?
Remember you're buying the unit only which may or may not include a balcony, if you have one, plus a proportionalte share of the common elements.
Best to require that the deal remain conditional on your lawyer looking at a current Status Certificate provided by the seller (cost is $100). This would let you know whether there are any anticipated major repairs not covered by the condo corp.'s reserve fund, which you could get dinged for. You might also want to require that a second status certificate be provided which is current as of the month of closing (esp. if your closing is several months away), so you can check if any info has changed.
Basically, the older the building the more likely major repairs are coming up. Also, some buildings near the lake have experienced unexpected amounts of structural damage in the foundations which have led to special assessments being levied.
An inspector would be unlikely to discover much of this.
Waste of Money
It's a waste of money on a condo. On houses, it's absolutely a good idea. I've purchased 3 older homes and the inspection was invaluable.
Having just sold a condo, no offer we had contained a home inspection as a condition, and I would have been shocked to have seen one.
The value in a home inspection on a house is the "fundamentals" of foundation, wiring, plumbing and anything that may have been added that is not up to code. These issues do not really exist when buying a condo.
My 2 cents.
It's a waste of money on a condo. On houses, it's absolutely a good idea. I've purchased 3 older homes and the inspection was invaluable.
Having just sold a condo, no offer we had contained a home inspection as a condition, and I would have been shocked to have seen one.
The value in a home inspection on a house is the "fundamentals" of foundation, wiring, plumbing and anything that may have been added that is not up to code. These issues do not really exist when buying a condo.
My 2 cents.
I wanted a home inspection which costs $250.00 to check things like, the appliancies, the bathrooms, windows, this condos has a buult in heating unit. The building is one year old. One bathroom had a soft spot on the dry wall outside the shower near the bottom. Maybe it could have a pipe leak. Anyways, my offer was rejected maybe due to this inspection. If the owner has nothing to hide then there should be no issue. Maybe the owner knows something I don't. When you are spending $260,000 bucks, you want to be sure. 
I wouldn't bother on a newer condo either.
The inspector would only note the same soft spot in the drywall that you did, he wouldn't poke around too much to find the cause. It's a good point to knock the price down a bit though. The appliances are fairly new, either they work or they don't, you can try them yourself.
For a house, an inspection is a must. This condition is also a useful way to back out of a deal if you have second thoughts or find something more desireable.
If the market is red hot, you might not be able to get any conditions because someone else will snap it up. However, that isn't the case today.
The inspector would only note the same soft spot in the drywall that you did, he wouldn't poke around too much to find the cause. It's a good point to knock the price down a bit though. The appliances are fairly new, either they work or they don't, you can try them yourself.
For a house, an inspection is a must. This condition is also a useful way to back out of a deal if you have second thoughts or find something more desireable.
If the market is red hot, you might not be able to get any conditions because someone else will snap it up. However, that isn't the case today.
Would doubt that the offer was rejected because of the home inspection. They might have said that, but there is likely a real reason why your offer was rejected that they have not told you. Could just be a negotiating tactic, they are messing with your mind, causing you to have some sleepless nights, etc.
Don't bet on this, much would depend on how the clause is worded, and how aggressive the people on the other side of the deal are.Svend said:
True. There are hundreds of condos out there. Too bad for him. I don't think the sellers would let me sit there are try out the appliances. One other thing is that there are dry wall cracks near thing windows. I guess this is normal. Builders just slap things together these days.
Thanks
Thanks
I know your deal is over... but...
Spend the $250. If you even ask the question, it means you have hesitation.
I doubt you'd regret spending $250. Would that keep you up at night?
But if you bought the place and then started worrying about some of the small problems you mentions then youd wish you spent the $250 but it would be too late.
Lots of problems can happen with condos. And individual units can be abused by owners/tenants and all sorts of problems can pop up.
Spend the $250. If you even ask the question, it means you have hesitation.
I doubt you'd regret spending $250. Would that keep you up at night?
But if you bought the place and then started worrying about some of the small problems you mentions then youd wish you spent the $250 but it would be too late.
Lots of problems can happen with condos. And individual units can be abused by owners/tenants and all sorts of problems can pop up.
I would be wondering why they are getting rid of a 1 year old condo in todays bloated condo market.
With out a doubt, You should have an inspection, The seller shouldn't be on the premises when you have your inspection because it is between you and the inspector. I believe the building to be still under warranty which should cover things like rot in the bathroom and cracks. If your agent is suggesting not to have one, I would drop him because he is definitely not looking out for your interests. Definitley worth going through heating and other systems. You could have a crack in your furnace- you just don't know.Best luck to you.stugotsms said:I wanted a home inspection which costs $250.00 to check things like, the appliancies, the bathrooms, windows, this condos has a buult in heating unit. The building is one year old. One bathroom had a soft spot on the dry wall outside the shower near the bottom. Maybe it could have a pipe leak. Anyways, my offer was rejected maybe due to this inspection. If the owner has nothing to hide then there should be no issue. Maybe the owner knows something I don't. When you are spending $260,000 bucks, you want to be sure.
F
figjam4
With any home purchase you should get it inspected and with a condo, of any type, you should get your lawyer to get an estopal ( no doubt I spelled that wrong). It cost about $50 and it will have the lawyer look into the financial matters of the condo, including any needed reapairs, lawsuits, unpaid condo fees etc.
Yes, I will have an inspection done. I do want to drop him if my next offer does not go through, but I signed an agreement to use him and only hime until June 1st. Is there a way out of this agreement?????
I didn't think about the mold thing. Now more then ever based on every ones comments, I will get an inspection no doubt.
Not sure why they are selling after one year. The building is 38 floors, there are about 10 - 12, 1 bedrooms for sale and 6, 2 bedrooms. The building is 1.5 years old. The two bedrooms are not selling, I figure the prices are too high. Asking about 265 - 270 per sq foot. Condos are not that hot anymore as one year ago.
I didn't think about the mold thing. Now more then ever based on every ones comments, I will get an inspection no doubt.
Not sure why they are selling after one year. The building is 38 floors, there are about 10 - 12, 1 bedrooms for sale and 6, 2 bedrooms. The building is 1.5 years old. The two bedrooms are not selling, I figure the prices are too high. Asking about 265 - 270 per sq foot. Condos are not that hot anymore as one year ago.
