Although a home inspection report can be used as a basis to request repairs or a price adjustment, getting the inspector involved in any negotiations over what should be fixed, how much it will cost, and who should pay for it, is beyond the scope of a home inspector’s service.  An inspector provides information about the overall condition and visible defects in a home. Beyond that, “the inspector shall make recommendations for correction and/or monitoring, or further evaluation of the deficiencies that the inspector observed” is the requirement of the Standards of Practice for the state of Florida, and standards of the two national home inspector associations are similar.

    But battling with the seller, the seller’s realtor, or the seller’s contractor over whether the seller should fix something, or pay to have it fixed, is not what we do. It also may be part of the “further evaluation” that is recommended in many situations. A home inspector can, however, be expected to clarify the details of a listed defect, its location, and why it is a defect, if further information about the defect is requested.

    Early in our career, nearly twenty years ago, we got pulled into several squabbles over who should be responsible for items listed in the home inspection report, and quickly discovered that having an inspector in the middle of a real estate negotiation rarely solves anything, and annoys everyone involved. 

    Click on any of the links below to read other articles about what is required to be included, or not, in a home inspection:

AFCI •• Air conditioner •• Ants •• Appliance recalls •• Appliance testing •• Attic •• Awnings •• Barns and ag blgs. •• Bathroom exhaust fan •• Bonding •• Carpet •• Ceiling fans •• Central vacuum •• Chimneys •• Chinese drywall •• Clothes dryer •• Dryer exhaust •• CO alarms •• Code violations •• Condemn a house •• Crawl space •• Detached carport •• Detached garage •• Dishwasher •• Docks •• Doors •• Electrical •• Electrical panel •• Electromagnetic radiation •• Fences •• Fireplaces  Furnace •• Garbage disposal •• Generator •• GFCIs •• Gutters •• Ice maker •• Inspect in the rain •• Insulation •• Insurance •• Interior Finishes •• Grading & drainage •• Lead paint •• Level of thoroughness •• Lift carpet •• Low voltage wiring •• Microwave •• Mold •• Move things •• Help negotiate •• Not allowed •• Outbuildings •• Paint •• Permits •• Pilot lights •• Plumbing •• Plumbing under slab •• Pools •• Questions won't answer •• Radon •• Range/cooktop •• Receptacle outlet •• Refrigerator •• Reinspection •• Remove panel cover •• Repairs •• Repair estimates •• Retaining walls •• Roaches •• Rodents •• Roof •• Screens •• Seawalls •• Septic loading dye test •• Septic tank •• Sewer lines •• Shower pan leak test •• Shutters •• Sinkholes •• Smoke alarms •• Solar panels •• Specify repairs •• Sprinklers •• Termites •• Toilets •• Trees •• Troubleshooting •• Wall air conditioners •• Walk roof •• Washing machine •• Water heater •• Water pressure •• Water shut-offs •• Main water shut-off •• Water softener •• Water treatment systems •• Well •• Windows •• Window/wall air conditioners •• Window blinds •• Wiring 

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

  To learn more strategies for getting the best possible home inspection, here’s a few of our other blog posts:

• Can you do a home inspection in the rain?

• The seller gave me a report from a previous home inspection. Should I use it or get my own inspector?  

• Who should pay for the home inspection?

• Do I need a home inspection to get insurance?

• I can't find a local home inspector. What should I do? 

• Should I trust the Seller's Property Disclosure Statement? 

• Should I follow the inspector around during the inspection?

• What is a "cosmetic" defect in a home inspection?

• What makes a house fail the home inspection?

• Should I get a home inspection before signing a contract to buy the house? 

• Should I use a contractor or a home inspector to inspect a house I'm buying?

• Can a home inspector do repairs to a house after doing the inspection? 

• Should I use my realtor's home inspector or choose one myself?

• How do devious sellers try to fool the home inspector? 

• Do home inspectors go on the roof? Do they get in the attic?

• Is it still possible to do a home inspection if there's no electricity or water? 

• What is the difference between a building inspector and a home inspector? 

• What are the questions a home inspector won't (or shouldn't) answer?

• What is the difference between an appraisal and a home inspection?

• Should a home inspection scare you? 

• What is the best way to negotiate repairs after the home inspection?

• Do we really need a home inspection?

• What questions should I ask the home inspector during the inspection?

• What should I bring to the home inspection? 

• Does my home inspection report give me everything I need to evaluate the price of a house?

• How can I check to be sure a home inspector is licensed? 

• Should I hire an engineer to inspect the house?

• What questions should you always ask before hiring a home inspector? 

• How can I find out if all the home improvements had a building permit? 

• Does a home inspector make sure the house is up to code?

• Does the seller have to fix all defects found by a home inspector to sell the house? 

• Should a homebuyer be there for the inspection?

• Will the home inspector help a homebuyer get the seller to reduce the price of the house? 

• Can I do my own home inspection?

• Who can do a home inspection in the State of Florida?

• What tips do first-time homebuyers need to know to get a better home inspection? 

• How can I reduce the risk of an expensive surprise when buying a house sight unseen?

• What should I wear to a home inspection? 

• What happens at a home inspection?

• What different types of specialized home inspections can I get?

• Is it common for an insurance company to require an inspection? 

• How do I get insurance if my home can't pass a 4-point inspection?

• A neighbor told me that the house I want to buy once had a bad mold problem. It was not in the seller's disclosure. What should I do? 

• What repairs are required to be made after a home inspection?

    Visit our HOME INSPECTION and "DOES A HOME INSPECTOR…?” Pages for other related blog posts on this subject, or go to the INDEX for a complete listing of all our articles.