inspection to decide whether you even want to move forward with the home or to cancel and get your earnest money back. Remember my "transite" asbestos duct issue uncovered by a home inspection on one of my transactions in Schaumburg? (See chapter 4 - House Horror Stories) During this process, specialists will examine the house to determine its condition and the viability of all the house systems. Don’t confuse the house inspection with house appraisal. The inspection will clarify the current state of the house, not what it’s actually worth. After the inspections, you’ll receive a report on the state of the house. The report will contain suggestions on future maintenance or repair steps or the need for additional expert opinions — for example, a structural engineer, should the inspection disclose faults in the building structure, or an HVAC expert if the furnace isn’t in working order. Keep in mind you are paying the inspector to find everything they can that is wrong with the home. It is not unusual for a home inspection report to be 50 to 120 pages. Many of the items are inconsequential nit-picky items and not worth worrying about but it is the big items you need to pay attention to. So don't be alarmed by the length of the report. Many homebuyers get "freaked out" by the home inspection report. It becomes, what appears to be, overwhelming problems with the home. You need to understand that existing homes (and even new homes) are living breathing entities. Wood breathes, drywall, breathes. Wear and tear are natural. So you need to realize when buying an existing home that there will be small defects and repairs that are just inherent to purchasing a home and don't expect the seller to fix them. If you read an Illinois contract, the only inspection-related items that are negotiable, are items that affect health and safety such as electrical,
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