Buying a home can be a stressful purchase, especially in a hot market like Denver, Colorado. Finding a competent home inspector that delivers you a quality home inspection report is one of the most important choices during the real estate transaction.
Home inspectors in Colorado and not governed or certified by the state, so it's important you check their education, credentials and reviews. Many Denver home inspectors follow a Standards of Practice from associations like InterNACHI. This will dictate what they will or won't check during your home inspection.
Including roof coverings, gutters, downspouts, vents, flashing, skylights, chimney, & general structure of the roof.
Siding, windows, exterior doors, flashing & trip, walkways, driveways, stairs, patios & decks & drainage.
Signs of foundation movement, cracks, structural concerns, and indication of water penetration.
Heating & Cooling systems, energy source, & method.
Main water & fuel supply shut-off valves, water heater, toilets, sinks, tubs, showers, drain, waste & vent systems.
Service drop, overhead service conductors, main service disconnect, grounding, switches, light fixtures, AFCI & GFCI receptacles, & presence of smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors.
Attend the home inspection. Ask questions but also allow your home inspector some space to focus and do a good job. You don’t want to be the reason they missed something!
Try to keep the findings in perspective. Each home (even newly built homes) will have issues. Work with your real estate agent to understand potential costs to fix the small and large issues found. Then make an informed decision based on your market economics.
Overall the Denver real estate market was on fire in 2018, with sales volume hitting 26.5 billion, up 2.36% from 2017.
The first half of 2018 was a market where homes sold fast with multiple offers. The second half of 2018 was still a seller's market but saw more inventory, which cooled a little, giving buyers a few more choices.
The bottom line for Denver homebuyers when it comes to the home inspection negotiations is that you still won't be able to ask for much after getting your home inspection report.
In areas or price ranges where there are more homes for sale and less buyers (1M+), you may be able to ask for the seller to fix more items or give more concessions. But for the majority of homebuyers in the Denver Metro Area, the home inspection report is more of a tool to help you understand your new home and know what home improvement items to budget for in the future.
