Yes!
Okay, but why? Why should my home inspector have a copy of my property disclosure?
To recap: a property disclosure is a statement given by the seller of a house to the potential buyer after the buyer has made an offer. The property disclosure, which has specific state and county requirements, is filled out by the seller, who must disclose everything they know about the house. This informs the buyer of potential hazards and issues with the property, along with its history, so the buyer can be better informed.
Then, ideally, the buyer would hire a reputable home inspector, who will give a professional, qualified, neutral third-party examination of the house. But why have a home inspection in addition to a property disclosure?
The seller is only responsible to disclose what they know. There may be issues with the house they are unaware of which will only be revealed in a home inspection.
Some states are caveat emptor, or “buyer beware” states, meaning the seller does not have to fully disclose everything to the buyer. It is the responsibility of the buyer to fully understand the condition of the house, making an inspection invaluable.
Even if they don’t find anything new or worrisome, a home inspector can confirm what is in the property disclosure and refer the buyer and sellers to other trade professionals who can do maintenance and repairs.
It is helpful for the home inspector to have a copy of the property disclosure so they can use it to guide their inspection. For example, if the property disclosure says there is water damage in the basement, the home inspector knows to take some extra time inspecting the basement. If the property disclosure says there was some DIY plumbing done in the guest bathroom by a previous owner, the home inspector knows to check that out (and if it needs to be fixed, then it will be valuable to tell the professional plumber who comes to fix it that it was done DIY).
A good home inspection is a collaborative process between all parties– the buyer, the seller, and the home inspector. Giving a copy of the property disclosure to the home inspector allows them to do the best and most thorough job they can do, so they can empower the home buyer to find their forever home, and the seller can sell their house!
