One of the most dreaded and feared events for the seller of a property to hear and go through is a HOME INSPECTION! You have found someone who is interested in
buying your home; they sign the contract and then tell you they want to have a home inspection done. This is when you nearly reach panic mode. You have visions of the inspector finding every conceivable problem wrong with your property and a repair bill that is through the roof. Ultimately, you see your deal going down the drain unless the costly repairs are made. Please know that it doesn’t have to be that way.
As the seller, you can have a pre-listing home inspection done. By doing an inspection prior to putting the house on the market, you are told what areas of your home need to be addressed. This inspection is the same inspection that the buyer will have done and should get the same results. You will need to take the same steps as the buyer and locate a qualified, experienced and trained inspector to do the job. Don’t forget, they also need to be insured.
The home inspection will cover most every aspect of your home. The inspector will give your property a complete going over starting with the foundation, check the interior and exterior, plumbing, electrical, doors, windows, crawlspaces, roof, attic, the overall structural integrity, and even the mechanical systems such as the air conditioning and heating units. One thing the home inspector does not do is to dismantle anything. Their inspection is solely a visual one. They are trained to look for signs that indicate or lead to a possible problem. If at all possible, try to be present when the inspection takes place. This way, you know what they are looking at and know what they see. This also gives you the opportunity to ask any questions regarding the process and how it is done.
After the inspection, you, the seller, will receive a written report outlining all the findings of the home inspection. This is a very valuable tool as it allows you to assess the results and calculate the estimated repair costs. By getting the pre-listing home inspection done prior to placing your home on the market, you have the time to get comparison quotes for the work needing to be done and also have the time to get the repairs made. You are given the luxury of having choices; you are not placed in a time crunch trying to comply before closing. You also have the option of not doing the repairs but listing them in the disclosure and pricing the property accordingly.
Bottom line, a home inspection does not need to be a feared process. So, be proactive instead of reactive, get a home inspection done first so that you are able to correct issues found before the buyer has their inspection, that way there will not be any surprises.