Our real estate agents at Josey Young & Brady Realty will help you find the Atlanta home for sale that puts you right at the heart of all the Peach State has to offer.

Sometimes, getting to closing on your dream home has challenges. With help from the right real estate expert though, you can overcome any bumps in the road. You may not be able to plan for everything that might happen, but you can always adjust and move forward.

One worrying situation is a problem with a home inspection. A home inspection is used to ensure a home is safe and ready for move in. A qualified inspector examines every aspect of the house, including its plumbing, electrical systems, roof, walls, floors, and much more. He or she then compiles a report specifying any issues.

Some mortgage programs for first-time homeowners require a "clean" home inspection that does not indicate defective wiring or anything else that may compromise human safety. In most cases, however, a home inspection is for advisory purposes only.

You can still go forward with buying a home after a poor inspection. Still, it's important to ask yourself how the results of the inspection might add costs or other complications to your plans. Here's what to do:

1. Start With a Strong Inspection Clause
   A real estate lawyer is your best ally in ensuring your contract has an inspection clause that can make things right in the event of trouble. A common approach is to stipulate that the seller must pay to make certain types of repairs or provide a lump sum. However, this can come back to haunt you if faults cost more to fix than the seller agreed upon.
   
   
2. Get Quotes for the Outstanding Work
   If an inspection report isn't up to par, pick out the items that need to be fixed and start talking to contractors. When you compare the prices of several different qualified contractors, you might find things are less expensive than you thought. Even if the costs are formidable, you'll do best at the negotiating table when you have the facts in front of you.
   
   
3. Re-Negotiate With the Seller
   In general, paying a closing cost credit is fast and efficient for buyers. Requesting that the seller handle repairs makes things easy, but can slow down the transaction. Reducing the sale price is a last-ditch approach, as it doesn't improve your cash flow: You could find yourself squeezed if you try to make repairs on top of other closing costs. Ask your real estate agent for advice.
   
   
4. Reassess the Situation
   Once you've done all the negotiating you can, walk through the situation with your real estate agent. It's sometimes the case that sellers don't have the equity to budge on costs, leaving you with few or no concessions. Lay out the credits, repairs, and cost reductions you stand to gain and compare them to the repairs that will be left over. If you aren't satisfied, it's time to walk.

In almost all cases, you can find a combination of concessions that will make buying the home feasible. However, there are rare issues where you should consider drawing the line. For example, many buyers choose to walk after learning of serious electrical system problems.

Remember, as the buyer who requested the inspection; you have an advantage. In many areas, sellers are required to disclose negative inspection results to future buyers. If a seller lets you go, they may not find anyone else as invested in the property as you are!

Contact us at Josey Young & Brady Realty for personalized real estate advice.