Homebuyers, Should You Ever Waive a Home Inspection?

Should you ever waive a home inspection? It depends, and it's decided house by house.

Hi, I'm Tanja Odzak, Realtor with eXp Realty, helping people sell and buy homes right here in the East Bay for the last 10 years.

Factors to weigh: what city is the home in, how long has it been on the market, and has the seller already completed pre-inspections. You should never waive an inspection contingency on a home where pre-inspections haven't been done, are outdated, or leave too many open questions about condition. An inspection can surface real hazards, foundation problems, a leaky roof, old knob-and-tube wiring, better to know upfront than after you've closed.

Here in the East Bay, it's customary for sellers to complete pre-inspections and share them with buyers before offers are due, so you often know the general condition upfront, before you fall in love with the house. That's why waiving inspections is common here, but only responsibly, when those pre-inspections are real and complete.

I'm Tanja Odzak, and I've sold over $100 million worth of homes with a decade of experience in the East Bay, including plenty of older homes. Waiving inspections on the wrong house can cost you tens of thousands in surprise repairs. Let's talk through the specific home you're considering.