Why a Home Inspection?
The well-informed buyer will request a home inspection. It could be prior to the contract or after but prior to the closing of the property.
The role of the home inspector will be to supply a comprehensive report that details any defects or major problems that exist in or outside the home.
Disclose Known Issues:
Most states require by law, that sellers show any known major defects to a buyer or their agent.
The advantages to the seller in obtaining a pre-listing inspection:
It is becoming customary for a seller to get a home inspection prior to putting their home on the market. This inspection upfront will aid the seller in replacing or repairing any issues found by the inspector.
In showing to the buyer, the issues found, the buyer may choose to make the repairs and negotiate the cost of the repairs while the seller may choose to either fix the problem or sell the home “as is” and let the buyer deal with the hassle and potential cost of repair.
Depending on the age of the home and the condition, most well-informed real estate brokers will recommend this inspection. Any problems found in the inspections will allow the seller to address the issues found, or not found, and take them into consideration when deciding the value of the home.
Problems discovered by the buyer after closing, this report can be valuable to the seller as it can show in good faith that they were unaware or corrected the problem.
Below is a list of the little things the sellers can do prior to the Inspection:
- Outside the home, clean the siding around the perimeter from dirt, pine straw, or mulch. This will allow the inspector to access the foundation and will appear well kept to the buyer.
- Remove any branches that may hang over or on the roof of the house or bushes too close to the house.
- Inspect door and window frames for any wood rot and windows that may have lost their seals.
- Inspect outside and inside water spigots and faucets for leakage.
- Replace HVAC filters if necessary.
- Be sure all electrical outlets are working including outside GIF outlets.
- Check to see if all windows are operational.
Inspections can be stressful for both sellers and buyers. Prepare to make this part of the sale as efficient as possible.
- Leave all keys to closets, sheds, garages, and all rooms available to the Inspector. Also, access to an outside building included in the appraisal of the home should be available to the inspector.
- Check to make sure all breakers are on, as well as water, gas, and electrical fixtures are running at the time of the inspection.
- Crawl spaces, attic, and electrical panels should be accessible for entry by the inspector.
- In storage rooms and basements, move items from the walls to allow access.
- Items that are hard to find, or in unexpected areas leave a note for the inspector. These items may include water cutoffs, alarms, and light sources.
For more information on what to expect from a home inspection follow this link.
