Price & earnest money
Consider market evidence, competition, your limits, and the amount and handling of earnest money under the agreement.
Buyer guide
Make the offer with your eyes open.
A purchase offer is more than a price, and an inspection is more than a repair list. Understand the terms, deadlines, protections, and tradeoffs before you commit or respond.
Understand the ProcessBuilding an offer
Price matters. So do the other terms.
The strongest offer is one you understand and can realistically complete. Team Pauly helps explain how the pieces work together and prepares the offer based on your decisions.
Financing & appraisal
Loan type, down payment, lender readiness, financing deadlines, and appraisal provisions can affect certainty and risk.
Inspection & due diligence
The agreement defines available inspections, deadlines, notices, and options. These details should match your needs.
Timing & other terms
Closing, possession, included property, seller-paid costs, sale-of-property terms, and other contingencies may carry substantial value.
After an offer is accepted
Deadlines begin to matter.
Receive the completed agreement, confirm important dates, and follow instructions for earnest money.
Choose qualified inspectors and schedule within the contractual period.
Read the reports, ask questions, and obtain specialist input or estimates when appropriate and allowed.
Use the rights and options provided by the purchase agreement before the applicable deadline.
Keep financing, appraisal, title, insurance, and other obligations moving toward closing.
The inspection’s purpose
Learn about the property before moving forward.
A home inspection can help identify visible conditions and provide context for maintenance and repairs. It cannot predict every future problem, see through walls, or replace every specialized evaluation.
Choose an appropriate inspectorReview qualifications, scope, limitations, timing, price, and whether additional specialists may be useful.
Attend when possibleAsk questions, learn how systems work, and distinguish immediate concerns from normal maintenance.
Read the complete reportDo not focus only on the summary. Ask the inspector to clarify anything you do not understand.
Stay within the agreementInspection rights, notices, negotiations, and deadlines come from the purchase contract and circumstances.
After reviewing the findings
Focus on decisions—not a perfect house.
The available choices depend on the purchase agreement. Team Pauly can help organize the information and communicate your instructions, while inspectors and other qualified professionals address matters within their expertise.
Common questions
Offers and inspections.
Should I waive an inspection to make my offer stronger?
That decision can materially change risk. Before limiting an inspection or other protection, understand the agreement, the property, the competitive situation, and the consequences, and seek appropriate professional advice.
Can an inspector tell me what repairs will cost?
Some inspectors may provide general context, but repair scope and pricing often require qualified contractors or specialists. Obtain appropriate estimates when time and the agreement allow.
Does a seller have to make requested repairs?
Not automatically. The answer depends on the purchase agreement, the request, applicable requirements, and whether the parties reach an agreement.
What if the appraisal is below the purchase price?
The choices depend on the financing and appraisal provisions, lender requirements, available funds, negotiations, deadlines, and the specific contract. Review the options promptly with the appropriate professionals.
Important: This page is general education—not legal, lending, inspection, engineering, environmental, insurance, or tax advice. Purchase agreements create legal obligations. Use qualified professionals and follow the written agreement and its deadlines.
Want to be ready before the right home appears?
Preparation makes it easier to act thoughtfully without turning an important decision into a rushed one.
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