Advice needed on results of my property inspection

Advice needed on results of my property inspection

New to Real Estate · Member since 2022 · 7 posts · 6 votes

Hi All,

Under contract for my first ever investment property, and the inspection results just came back. I'm concerned with two things which I will paste directly from the report. I'm meeting with my agent today to discuss, but remember, this is my first time purchasing a home/investment so any insight would be appreciated.

My closing date is scheduled for 11/22 - this is coming up fast!

Are these worth repairing? Or should I back out? I only have $2k down non-refundable earnest money. The seller already has given me a good deal on the property due to her being forced to return to NYC for work post-covid (seller is paying $20K out of pocket after overpaying for the property 2 yrs ago, and sellers agent is taking a commission cut to make the deal work). So I won't be able to push the seller for repair concessions.

The main two areas of concern as I see them are:

1. Moisture Issues

2. Plumbing Issues

Below are the details directly from the inspection report: 

1. "The house band located at the sink on the right side of the house, to the left of the front entryway, and along the rear wall is discolored and decayed in a manner typical of water damage. The wood was soft when probed. This area and all the house band needs to be invasively inspected by a licensed general contractor to locate and repair the source of the moisture and any decayed wood

The crawl space had evidence of high moisture levels in the form of mold growth and some fungal activity. The areas probed still seemed solid, but be aware that some types of wood destroying fungal damage will only be detectable once the wood has properly dried out. A licensed general contractor or engineer should be consulted to evaluate the wood flooring structures as well as the crawl space ventilation in regards to the moisture and damage concerns. Any areas of damage should be located and repaired as needed to ensure the stability of the home. The home inspector was concerned with moisture issues and any evidence of decay, not the health implications of mold. If you have any further concerns about mold/fungus an industrial hygienist should be consulted.

Grading and drainage is either negative (slopes towards the foundation) or neutral adjacent to the left of the building, and moisture intrusion will remain a possibility.
The soil or the hard surfaces should slope away from the building to a distance of at least six feet, to keep moisture away from the footings. In its current state, the grading will bring water towards the foundation which will lead to a wet crawl space, mold and fungal growth, and possible property damage. A grading contractor should be consulted for further evaluation and repair.

From the attic, some of the fascia boards and the ends of some of the roof sheathing were discolored in a manner consistent with water penetration. This often happens when gutters backup or water curls under the roof and gets to the fascia board instead of going into the gutter. This should be evaluated further by a roofing contractor or licensed general contractor to ensure there is no hidden damage and to make repairs as needed."

2. "One or more of the sink drain lines had leaks under them when tested. Leaks can lead to property damage and mold growth if not repaired. A licensed plumbing contractor should be consulted for repair. 

The drain line for the bathtub in the master bathroom was leaking into the crawlspace. It seems to be missing the wood flooring at the moment, but did get the insulation wet and there was a puddle of water under the pipe. This needs to be repaired before and further damage occurs. The wet insulation will also need to be replaced. A licensed plumbing contractor should be consulted to locate and repair the leak."

There are also other minor issues, but nothing that I foresee will cause serious livability issues. Things like GFCI outlets, vent fan issues, etc.

Any quick advice would be tremendously appreciated! Thanks :)






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Realtor · Hanover Twp, PA · Member since 2018 · 3k+ posts · 3k+ votes
1y

@Dillan Gomez, a few thoughts:

1. Did you attend the inspection? I ALWAYS recommend a buyer attend the inspection and walk around with the inspector. You get 3 BIG benefits from doing this. One is that you see what the inspector sees. So, you know exactly what they are talking about in the report. Second is that you can ask questions and get more detail to understand the issue and possible solutions. Third, is that inspectors will often give information about how a home functions and helpful tips for maintenance. So, you can get a mini-education as well.

2. Inspection reports always sound ominous and always recommend going above and beyond to address any potential issue. That's why attending the inspection is so useful for a new buyer or at least sending the buyer's agent to attend.

3. Nothing in the report sounds horrible. If you have concerns get a contractor & plumber out to give you quotes.

4. No house is perfect and you want to be prepared to deal with issues. Its part of home ownership.

5. Most of your issues sound water related. That will ALWAYS be the case FOREVER! Water is probably the #1 nemesis of homes. It will always be a battle because its constantly trying to get in from the outside in the form of rain, runoff, condensation, snow, ice, etc. Then we also invite it into our homes through the plumbing and have to manage it there as well. Water is everywhere and will always cause issues requiring maintenance.

6. To me this is really a numbers question. If you can get a handle on the cost to repair these issues and still think its a good deal, I would be inclined to move forward if I was the buyer.

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  • Realtor · Hanover Twp, PA · Member since 2018 · 3k+ posts · 3k+ votes
    1y

    @Dillan Gomez, a few thoughts:

    1. Did you attend the inspection? I ALWAYS recommend a buyer attend the inspection and walk around with the inspector. You get 3 BIG benefits from doing this. One is that you see what the inspector sees. So, you know exactly what they are talking about in the report. Second is that you can ask questions and get more detail to understand the issue and possible solutions. Third, is that inspectors will often give information about how a home functions and helpful tips for maintenance. So, you can get a mini-education as well.

    2. Inspection reports always sound ominous and always recommend going above and beyond to address any potential issue. That's why attending the inspection is so useful for a new buyer or at least sending the buyer's agent to attend.

    3. Nothing in the report sounds horrible. If you have concerns get a contractor & plumber out to give you quotes.

    4. No house is perfect and you want to be prepared to deal with issues. Its part of home ownership.

    5. Most of your issues sound water related. That will ALWAYS be the case FOREVER! Water is probably the #1 nemesis of homes. It will always be a battle because its constantly trying to get in from the outside in the form of rain, runoff, condensation, snow, ice, etc. Then we also invite it into our homes through the plumbing and have to manage it there as well. Water is everywhere and will always cause issues requiring maintenance.

    6. To me this is really a numbers question. If you can get a handle on the cost to repair these issues and still think its a good deal, I would be inclined to move forward if I was the buyer.

  • New to Real Estate · Member since 2022 · 7 posts · 6 votes
    1y
    Quote from @Kevin Sobilo:

    @Dillan Gomez, a few thoughts:

    1. Did you attend the inspection? I ALWAYS recommend a buyer attend the inspection and walk around with the inspector. You get 3 BIG benefits from doing this. One is that you see what the inspector sees. So, you know exactly what they are talking about in the report. Second is that you can ask questions and get more detail to understand the issue and possible solutions. Third, is that inspectors will often give information about how a home functions and helpful tips for maintenance. So, you can get a mini-education as well.

    2. Inspection reports always sound ominous and always recommend going above and beyond to address any potential issue. That's why attending the inspection is so useful for a new buyer or at least sending the buyer's agent to attend.

    3. Nothing in the report sounds horrible. If you have concerns get a contractor & plumber out to give you quotes.

    4. No house is perfect and you want to be prepared to deal with issues. Its part of home ownership.

    5. Most of your issues sound water related. That will ALWAYS be the case FOREVER! Water is probably the #1 nemesis of homes. It will always be a battle because its constantly trying to get in from the outside in the form of rain, runoff, condensation, snow, ice, etc. Then we also invite it into our homes through the plumbing and have to manage it there as well. Water is everywhere and will always cause issues requiring maintenance.

    6. To me this is really a numbers question. If you can get a handle on the cost to repair these issues and still think its a good deal, I would be inclined to move forward if I was the buyer.


     Thank you, Kevin!

    I did attend the inspection and it was very helpful!

    And both the contractor and agent assured me that this isn't anything too crazy which is good. I'm going to get a quote either way just to see how much repairs would come back as then re-evaluate from there if the numbers still work!

  • Alex HilemanPro Member
    Real Estate Agent · Pittsburgh, PA · Member since 2023 · 224 posts · 147 votes
    1y

    Hi Dillan,

    It sounds like you got a $20k discount on the home due to the seller's urgent need to move. I agree with Kevin on getting an estimate for the repairs before you officially close. As long as you can afford to make the repairs within the next year or so and you're not spending more than the house is worth, I would move forward with the purchase. Water intrusion will always be an issue, and the sooner you can stop that water coming in, the better!

  • Nathan GesnerBusiness Member
    Moderator
    Real Estate Broker · Cody, WY · Member since 2010 · 28k+ posts · 41k+ votes
    1y

    If you are still interested in this property, I would get a qualified, experienced contractor to look at the damage and provide you with a detailed, written repair estimate. Negotiate the price down to cover that repair, or walk away from the deal.

    Based on your lack of experience, I would walk away and keep looking.

    The DIY Landlord Book4.7248 Reviews
  • Corby GoadeBusiness Member
    Investor · Boise, ID · Member since 2014 · 3k+ posts · 3k+ votes
    1y

    Inspectors always make things sound really bad, that's their stock in trade. Sometimes those issues are really bad, but sometimes they're nothing. 

    You need to make sure your agent is very savvy. A seller is always going to say they won't or can't make any concessions. Not true in 99% of the cases. If there's a material issue with the property, it's not going away if you cancel your agreement, they'll have to deal with it for the next buyer, too. 

    Step one is always ask the seller for the moon and see how they react. Sometimes you'll get a pleasant surprise. I just got one of my clients a $50K concession on a $500K property through some specific negotiation techniques. If you don't ask, you don't get. 

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