Can I ask for new carpet from my home inspection?

Question: “Can I ask for new carpet from my home inspection?” Answer: You can, but that’s not what home inspections are for. Home inspections are for you to find significant defects that you weren’t aware of when you made your offer. Based on what you find, you can decide if you still want the home
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Can Sellers Make Electrical Repairs Themselves?

Question: “Hi Gary. We made an offer on a home and the inspector found a few electrical issues. We asked for them to be fixed by a licensed electrician. Then right before closing we found out the seller made the repairs himself, not a licensed electrician. He can’t do that, can he?” Answer: The seller
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Why Don’t Buyers Do Home Inspections Up Front?

Question: “Hi Gary. I haven’t bought or sold a home in 30 years, so I don’t know the process.  I just sold my mother’s home and the buyers asked me to discount the price $12,000 after they had their inspection due to electrical and roof issues.  Why didn’t they do their inspection upfront instead of
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Should a Structural Engineer Inspect the Home Foundation?

Question: “Should we have a structural engineer inspect the foundation on a home we want to buy?” Answer: A few years ago, I had a pain in my chest almost certainly from straining myself in the gym. I called Kaiser to set an appointment to see my doc and when they heard “chest pain” they
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How to Know What Repairs to Ask For

Question: “I plan to buy my first home soon and want to learn as much as possible. I know I should have a home inspection done. But how do I know which findings are serious and what to ask to be repaired?” Answer: Great question! There are only 6 major systems of a home: Foundation
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Should I Buy a San Diego Home With a Cracked Slab?

Question: “What do you think about buying a house with a cracked slab?” Answer: I tell my clients there are two kinds of cracked slabs: those that ARE a problem and those that are NOT a problem. Experts say that all house slabs have cracks in them. Drying cracks or other hairline cracks are common
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Do Termite Inspections Cover Fungus?

Question: “I saw a house that has a lot of fungus damage to the wood. Does a termite inspection cover that?” Answer: Yes. While it’s often called a “termite inspection”, the correct term is “pest control inspection,” which covers anything that can decay or eat the wood. And that includes fungus.
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Does a Cracked Driveway Mean Settlement Problems?

Question: “I saw a house that I liked, but the driveway has a lot of cracks in it. Does that mean that the house has settlement problems?” Answer: Maybe. Maybe not. Driveway slabs are almost always poured at a different time than the house slab. And they typically aren’t as thick, aren’t reinforced with metal
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How Long Do Buyers Have to Inspect a San Diego Home?

Question: “How long does a homebuyer have to inspect a home?” Answer: That’s a good question, but a more complete question to ask is: “How long does a buyer have to inspect and investigate a home and, depending on what they find, either cancel or request from the seller a credit or repair?” That’s because
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Is the Buyer Responsible for Problems if They Waive Inspection?

Question: “We sold our house in Orange County in April and forgot to disclose that the fireplace was pulling away from the house. The buyer didn’t bother to have an inspection and now they’re threatening to sue us for the fireplace repair, which is around $5,000. Isn’t the buyer the one responsible if they decide
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