Common reasons why home buyers walk from their dream home

1. The roofing material, this has to be the number one reason I have found that causes a sale to fall flat. While a home cannot fail a home inspection it does bring up issues with the home that the insurance carrier may not consider insurable. Limbs touching the roof covering may be the number one reason for roof failures and is easily prevented with proper routine maintenance but it is commonly ignored. The second largest reason is the remaining useful life of the roof, this does not mean the roof will not last longer but that it will require a more routine inspection to ensure no new issues arise. It has been my experience that many insurance carriers require 5 years of remaining useful life for the roof covering (some require only three) and many homes that have not had a roof replacement within the past 15 years with three tab asphalt shingles may not be considered insurable and will require replacement to make the home insurable. Even if the roof is to be replaced shortly after purchase it is recommended that the potential home buyer contact their local insurance agent to determine their requirements. Plumbing vents are always a concern when they reach the 10 year mark as rubber boots will begin to split allowing moisture to penetrate roof decking, this is normally an easy repair for most roofing contractors. Lead vent boots are common in this area and may appear to be in good condition from the ground, however it is common to find that they have been chewed apart by what I believe to be squirrels and this can allow water intrusion, repairing this is usually a simple task for most roofing contractors.

2. Aluminum wiring, during the past several years this would cause the home inspection to end before I could get to the end of the inspection. I have noticed a shift during this past year as most buyers have been informed as to aluminum wirings existence before the inspection and preparations have begun to have it removed, but this is not always the case and there are sellers who had no idea there home has aluminum. Most home buyers believe that if the home was built before the mid 1960’s there will be no aluminum wiring, but this is hardly the truth as remodels done after the original build could have allowed aluminum into the home, this is very common to find during inspections. Lately I have found that there an insurance carrier in this area that will allow homes with aluminum wiring, I do not know the details to these policies and it is recommended that you consult your local insurance agent before proceeding with the purchase. I do recommend that aluminum wiring be replaced in all cases.

3. Polybutylene Plumbing, this plumbing material is known for its defects and should be removed from the dwelling. This being said there are many homes that experience no issues from having this type material in the home. From all the information I could gather this material came along in 1978 and was no longer manufactured after 1994, however I have found this material as a faucet supply line in a house recently that was built in 1999. I am not aware of any insurance carriers that will insure a home when they learn of this material. If they do insure the home coverage may be effected.

4. The buyer, yes the buyer, when a potential buyer gets their completed home inspection report they can become overwhelmed, first the buyer should consider each item as a standalone item and determine if this item can be fixed easily and at reasonable cost or does this item really matter moving forward with the purchase. Remember that the inspector is there to tell you about the issues in the home and it is up to the buyer to determine if this is an issue to them, such as a ceiling fan in the guest bedroom room needing replacing. Items like these do not require repair as soon as you close on the home and can wait if this room is not going to be used soon. However, this item would be listed as defective on the final home inspection report. All homes have their issues and the prefect home with zero issues has not been found, at least not by me.

Of course there are many reasons a potential buyer may walk from the home of their dreams but these seem to be the common reasons in my experience. It is important that you speak with your home inspector as this is a good way to determine if the items on the report can be repaired and if it needs to be done now or if it can wait to be repaired down the road.

Need a home inspection or just have questions call Scott Thomspon/Gulf State Home Inspections @ (850) 393-7418