Don't skip the Home Inspection

Why Even I Wouldn’t Waive the Home Inspection (And Neither Should You)

Look, I get it. I’ve been in construction for over 25 years. I’ve flipped houses, managed properties, and I can eyeball a bowed foundation wall from across the street. I’ve probably seen more crawlspaces than most people have seen Netflix shows. So when I say don’t skip the home inspection, I’m not just covering my liability—I’m trying to save you from a

A Home Inspector knows what to look for.

money pit.

I know, I know. The market is competitive. You find the perfect house in New Paltz, Kingston, or Woodstock—your offer needs to stand out. And somewhere, someone says, “Just waive the inspection. It’ll make your offer stronger.” But here’s the thing…

Even I wouldn’t do that.

Here's why:

1. You don’t know what you don’t know.Sure, I can spot rot, cracks, and bad DIY plumbing. But a licensed home inspector brings a fresh set of eyes, a creepy love for thermal imaging, and a checklist the length of a CVS receipt. They catch the stuff we might overlook—even the pros.

2. Surprises are for birthdays, not basements.You don’t want to discover after closing that your “quaint fixer-upper” has a cracked main beam, an active termite party, or aluminum wiring from 1973 that’s one spark away from turning your dream home into a barbecue pit.

3. Leverage, baby.An inspection gives you negotiation power. Found a roof on its last shingle? You can ask for a credit, a repair, or walk away if it’s too much. Without it, you’re buying blind—and no one likes a surprise roof bill.

4. Peace of mind is priceless.You’re making one of the biggest purchases of your life. Even if everything checks out, that inspection buys you confidence. And confidence feels better than discovering a mystery smell in the attic two months in.

Bottom Line:Even if you're a contractor, an HGTV addict, or someone who thinks “YouTube taught me everything,” waiving the inspection is a gamble. And homes are expensive enough without turning them into a surprise renovation reality show.

So no matter how many tools are in your garage or how many studs you can identify by sight (the wooden kind, not the neighbors), get the inspection.

Trust me—this is coming from someone who knows homes.