Buyer Beware - A home inspection may have saved this couple from homeowner woes

Today's Surreal Estate column highlights a few reasons for buyers to get home inspections when they purchase.

"But when they ripped out the floors, they discovered standing water around the bathtub and a rotted subfloor. Suddenly, the problem appeared in all its ghastly simplicity. The fiberglass bathtub (installed during the nonpermitted bathroom remodel) had not been properly supported, so every time someone took a shower, it sagged, which created cracks in the caulking. It appeared that for years, water had poured through these cracks and seeped across the floor into the hallway and two adjacent bedrooms. The entire subfloor had to be gutted along with the bathtub, sink and gorgeous tile job."

Despite the hot market, there is always a way to do your dilligence. Don't let your agent tell you otherwise. In a competitive offering situation, make your contingency short. Even sellers know that an inspection will protect them in the future as well. If they know that the buyers had a chance to do their inspections, they are less likely to hear from the attorneys down the road as well.