You may be in an unprecedented circumstance in which you have a second chance at placing an offer on a home because the previous buyer backed out last minute. While you may feel like you got lucky, at the same time, you may be hesitant about exactly why the previous buyer had a change of heart. With this, you may be curious about whether it had anything to do with what their inspector found during their in-depth examination. Or, even if there was no other buyer in question, you may simply wonder if you can skip this home inspection step yourself and just refer to a previous one. If either of these situations is relevant to you, please follow along to find out whether you can get a previous buyer’s home inspection report and how a proficient New York City purchase & sale attorney at Mark Wakim Law can help.
Can I request a copy of a previous buyer’s home inspection report?
Nothing is stopping you from asking for a copy of a previous buyer’s home inspection report. However, you must understand that, similarly, the seller does not have a legal obligation to share it with you upon request. And even if they agree to it, they must also get the explicit consent from the previous buyer. This is because a home inspection report is technically considered the property of the buyer who ordered and paid for it. Therefore, a degree of confidentiality comes into play here.
Why should I have my own inspection performed?
Even if you manage to acquire a copy of a previous buyer’s home inspection report, we strongly encourage you to hire your own inspector to perform an examination. This is because you cannot definitively tell how accurate the previous home inspection was, especially if it was conducted years or even decades before. That is, new issues may have developed within the house over time.
For example, the roof that was once reported to have structural integrity may now the sagging or damaged after serious weather events. Or, there may have been a small appliance fire at one point that left more fire damage than what meets the naked eye.
Nonetheless, getting an updated report on the house may be in your best interest so that you may have a clear list of found issues and clear recommendations on if, how, and when they will need to be rectified. With this, you may be certain with your decision to follow through with purchasing the house, or pulling out because the necessary repairs diminish the house’s overall value in your eyes.
In conclusion, if you need help with executing this, do not be afraid to reach out to a talented New York City real estate attorney. Our team at Mark Wakim Law is more than capable and eager to assist you with your legal proceedings.
