Purchasing a home in Florida can be an exciting time, but it can quickly deteriorate if the buyers do not take the necessary steps to protect themselves. One of those measures is to have a thorough home inspection. According to the Florida Department of Business & Professional Regulation, a home inspector must be licensed in the state to conduct the investigation.
These inspections will evaluate the condition of the home. At the end of the process, the inspector will make a recommendation to buyers regarding how they should move forward. In some cases, the inspection will not reveal any major concerns, though it could list some small items that the buyers or homeowner should repair.
In other circumstances, an inspection could uncover situations that may prompt the buyer to cancel the contract. Popular Mechanics reports that the following issues should raise red flags for potential homebuyers:
- A dated electrical system: These can be costly to update and also pose a serious safety concern because an old system can lead to an electrical fire.
- Structural issues: Small cracks in the foundation may be fixable, but large cracks indicate a major issue, such as a sinking home.
- Mold: If there is a significant mold problem in the home, cleaning it will not necessarily mean it will not come back.
- Serious roof issues: A sagging roof likely means that the entire structure will need to be replaced.
- High levels of radon: Some inspectors recommend a radon test, while others could skip it. You must run a test to determine if there are high levels of radon, which can be deadly.
Each of these issues could be resolved through negotiations between the buyer and seller. Buyers should know how much these fixes will cost and how long they will take. Further, they should review any contracts to ensure they can get out of the sale if the inspection reveals such serious issues.
