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Whether or not you use your home inspection results to negotiate with a seller depends on how badly you want the property, what you’re willing to pay for repairs post-closing, and how strong the market is in your area. If a seller has other offers to consider, they may walk away from yours if you try to renegotiate based on your inspection results. Speak with your agent, who should attend the home inspection, about the best course of action, and consider how badly you want or need the property.

Foundation cracks won’t always affect your appraised value. All foundations crack due to normal settlement, so hairline cracks that aren’t leaking or uneven from side to side are unlikely to have an impact on your appraisal. Structural cracks, on the other hand, often lead to a reduced appraised value, especially if the underlying problem will cause the issue to worsen over time.

Repiping your home creates a large mess, and you won’t have access to water while your contractors are working. To prepare, contractors will cover the floor and furniture with drop clothes. In some cases, they may move furniture to protect it and get it out of the way. They’ll then cut holes in your walls, floors, and ceiling to expose the existing pipes.

They’ll also turn off your water, but they’ll leave at least one bathroom and the kitchen functioning at the end of the day. You’ll need to plan accordingly.

Measure from zero on a measuring tape by placing the metal hook right up against the edge of what you need to measure. You can also latch the hook onto an open edge—of, say, a table—to accurately measure as well. If you begin at the 1-inch mark, you'll need to subtract an inch from your total.