About North Carolina Home Inspections
Most Home Buyers have a home inspection performed. The inspection focuses on major systems of the dwelling. It is not an appraisal, a warranty, or a survey. There is no guarantee implied regarding the remaining life of any system. Licensed home inspectors are not necessarily skilled at all the trades needed to build a home, but may be general contractors, or may represent a particular trade.
Some Inspectors are licensed to also perform Wood-Destroying Insect inspections and write those reports; however the Buyer may also contract with a Pest & Termite company.
Sellers may choose to have a home inspection performed prior to listing the home, and to make repairs to render the home more presentable. This is wise as it serves to remove defects and repairs from the negotiating table. The Buyer would still be wise to hire his/her own inspector to assure that repairs were effective, and because additional defects can be discovered by “another set of eyes.”
In North Carolina neither a Buyer’s Agent nor a Seller's Agent may discourage a Buyer in any way from having a home inspection performed. A Buyer who is discouraged from hiring an inspector by any licensed party, for any reason, should report this violation of NC Real Estate Law.
The Standard Realtors’ "Offer to Purchase and Contract," includes two contingencies for repair considerations. A Buyer may be able to terminate and may have the Earnest Money Deposit returned if the Seller declines to make requested repairs relevant to the Contract and noted in the inspection report. Or, if the inspection reveals significant defects and a reasonable cost estimate by a creditable professional tradesman or general contractor exceeds the “Cost off Repair Contingency” dollar figure which was negotiated and agreed to in the Contract, the Buyer may be able to terminate without requesting the repairs.
For more information, consult the following brochure. It is a joint publication of the North Carolina Real Estate Commission and the North Carolina Home Inspector Licensure Board:
http://www.ncrec.state.nc.us/publications-bulletins/inspections.html#WhoCanPerform
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