Negotiate Home Inspection Findings | Types of Inspection Contingencies

In today’s fast-moving real estate market, especially in Northern Virginia, Washington DC, and Maryland, it’s easy to feel pressure to waive the home inspection contingency. But skipping it can cost you thousands later. At VA Home Inspect, LLC, we help buyers make informed decisions—without surprises after closing.

A home inspection contingency gives you the right to hire a professional home inspector (like Joseph Najm) to assess the property’s condition before your purchase is finalized. If significant issues are uncovered, you can negotiate repairs, request credits, or even walk away without losing your deposit—depending on how your contract is written.

Our inspections cover all accessible areas of your home including the exterior, interior, roofing, plumbing, electrical, heating, and cooling systems to provide you with a comprehensive report.  Learn how a home inspection contingency or void-only inspection lets you negotiate home inspection findings before closing on a home. 

Negotiate home inspection findings with confidence by understanding the types of inspection contingencies, including the void-only inspection. Learn how each option protects your interests during a real estate transaction and ensures you're informed before closing. VA Home Inspect, LLC helps you avoid costly surprises after you buy. 

Understanding how to negotiate home inspection findings is essential for both buyers and sellers in any real estate transaction. After an inspection, buyers often receive a report highlighting issues—ranging from minor cosmetic flaws to significant structural concerns. 

Knowing which items to prioritize and how to approach repair requests can make a major difference in the outcome of a sale. Working with your agent and inspector, you can determine which findings are worth negotiating and how to present them in a way that’s reasonable and effective.

A void-only inspection is one of the more restrictive types of inspection contingencies and is commonly used in competitive markets like Northern Virginia and the DC metro area. Under this contingency, the buyer can cancel the contract if dissatisfied with the inspection—but cannot request repairs or credits. It gives buyers a way out without locking sellers into post-inspection negotiations. While it offers limited flexibility, a void-only option can be attractive in multiple-offer scenarios where sellers want fast, low-risk contracts.

There are several types of inspection contingencies used in real estate contracts. These include right-to-negotiate (repair or credit requests allowed), void-only (cancel or move forward as-is), and informational-only (for buyer knowledge, with no contractual leverage). Each has different implications and levels of protection, so understanding the purpose and limits of each is critical when making or accepting an offer.

Whether you’re a buyer trying to negotiate home inspection findings, considering a void-only inspection, or reviewing different types of inspection contingencies, having an experienced inspector and knowledgeable agent can help you navigate the process with confidence.

 Buying a home? Learn how to negotiate home inspection findings with different types of inspection contingencies, including the void-only inspection. VA Home Inspect, LLC helps buyers in VA, DC, and MD understand defects, protect their deposits, and make smart decisions before closing on any property. 

Common in competitive markets like Arlington, Alexandria, or Bethesda, this gives you the right to void the contract based on the inspection—but not negotiate. It still gives you a way out if serious defects are discovered. 

Understand your options: home inspection contingency, void-only inspection, and how to negotiate home inspection findings effectively. 

Sometimes pushed by agents, this limits your rights and often doesn’t include a full report. VA Home Inspect, LLC does not recommend this option unless absolutely necessary. 

Understanding the types of inspection contingencies—like void-only inspection—can help you negotiate home inspection findings effectively. VA Home Inspect, LLC provides expert inspections and clear reports so you can move forward or walk away with confidence before closing in VA, DC, or MD. 

Understanding how to negotiate home inspection findings can save you thousands of dollars—and help you avoid costly surprises after closing. When issues arise during an inspection, it's important to know your options and how to communicate them effectively through the inspection contingency in your contract.

A home inspection contingency gives the buyer a set period—usually 5 to 10 days—to conduct an inspection and decide whether to proceed, renegotiate, or walk away based on the results. There are different types of inspection contingencies, each offering varying levels of flexibility:

1. Standard (Repair Request) Contingency – Allows the buyer to request repairs, credits, or price reductions based on the inspection report.
    
2. Informational Only Contingency – Lets the buyer inspect the property but not request repairs; they may walk away if dissatisfied.
    
3. Waived Inspection Contingency – The buyer skips the inspection contingency entirely (not recommended unless you’ve done a pre-offer inspection).
    
4. As-Is Contingency with Right to Void – Buyer agrees to purchase as-is, but retains the right to cancel if major issues are uncovered.
    

Once your inspection report is in hand, you can negotiate based on findings such as roofing issues, electrical hazards, plumbing leaks, or structural concerns. Depending on the terms, you may request the seller make repairs, offer a credit at closing, or adjust the purchase price.

 Don’t waive your inspection rights—use the right contingency to negotiate home inspection findings. From void-only inspection to full contingencies, VA Home Inspect, LLC gives buyers leverage, insight, and peace of mind across Northern Virginia, DC, and Maryland real estate markets.