Good REALTORS will encourage you to have a home inspection. Wisconsin home buyers who choose this path often avoid the third most common mistake during the home buying process.
There are important legal and procedural details surrounding the inspection contingency. While we cannot provide legal advice, this article will help you understand what questions to ask your REALTOR® or attorney before writing an offer. Real estate transactions are complex—this is not a do-it-yourself process. Consider signing a Buyer’s Agency Agreement; without it, a REALTOR may not legally advocate for your best interests.
Sometimes home inspections uncover unknown conditions. Including a testing contingency is a smart addition to your offer. Here's how it works in Wisconsin:
Step 1 – The Offer to Purchase
The standard Wisconsin WB-11 offer to purchase form contains important inspection and testing language in lines 97–114.
Step 2 – Home Inspection Contingency
Lines 298–315 describe what areas are subject to inspection—such as the house, property, and time limits (typically 10–15 days). This section outlines how to proceed if defects or safety issues are discovered. Ask your REALTOR® what options are available in that scenario.
Step 3 – Addendum A: Additional Testing
If you want Radon, Mold, or Indoor Air Quality testing, include Addendum A with your offer. Without this, your inspector or agent may not legally collect samples (air, water, or building materials) during the inspection.
Example: If your inspector notices “black organic growth on roof decking” but testing wasn’t authorized in the offer, no further analysis can legally be performed.
Even with professional tools, inspectors must follow legal boundaries unless testing is pre-approved.
Conclusion
This article should help you ask informed questions of your REALTOR® or legal counsel. When it’s time for your inspection, we hope you choose us. We promise a thorough and professional inspection to help you move forward with confidence.
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