Should I Waive the Home Inspection?

Getting your offer noticed in a pile of others very similar is challenging, and many buyers are opting to waive the home inspection to do so. Is this a good idea?

It can help get your offer to the top, but it can be a very risky move. There could be expensive or dangerous issues uncovered during a home inspection that a buyer wished they had known because they may not have followed through with the purchase, but now the home has closed and it is their responsibility to address.

Instead, I advise that a buyer state the home inspection is for informational purposes only. In this scenario, the buyer still has the option to have the home examined and learn about what they can expect regarding any issues or repairs, and the seller is relieved that there will not suddenly be a renegotiation of terms since the buyer is waiving their option to request that the seller make repairs. This way, the buyer still retains the right to cancel the offer and receive their full deposit back if the results of the inspection are not to their satisfaction.