PRE-LISTING INSPECTION: It is pretty safe to assume that a buyer who contracts to buy your house will want to have a professional house inspection conducted. Most sale contracts are written with a "contingent upon an acceptable house inspection" clause. So why not wait until you have a buyer who wants and will pay for an inspection? While many sellers do wait for just this situation, there are a few compelling reasons for you, the seller, to invest in a professional whole house inspection before listing your house. If you were planning to do any cosmetic repairs or remodeling before listing your house, an inspection may reveal additional defects that your cosmetic repairs could have masked. A pre-listing inspection gives you the opportunity to fix possible underlying problems right the first time. This saves you the time, trouble, and money of fixing a seemingly small repair, then finding out there is a larger problem, forcing you to destroy your work, fix the underlying problem, and then do the cosmetic repair all over again.
You will know, in advance, of defects. You will have an opportunity to repair them before the first potential buyer ever sees your house. Experience has shown that when a buyer, through their own home inspection, finds a defect, they tend to look for more, and possibly re-negotiate the purchase price.
A completed whole house inspection signals to buyers that you are a conscientious seller. If a buyer is torn between two houses--your house and another that has not been pre-inspected--it is very possible they may feel more comfortable with yours.
It removes an "unknown" from your selling process. There are plenty of "unknowns" when you sell a house--when will it sell? How much will it sell for? Will the buyer's financing be approved? By discovering (and repairing) any defects up front, you remove at least one uncertainty from the selling process.
Following is a list of many common defects that impact the sale of your home. Many are simple and easy to correct, which will keep buyer prospects interested in your property. Here are some areas you can review for yourself and correct as necessary.
Paint or Stain the entrance to your home
Window & door caulking and seals
Signs of Insect and Pest Problems
Roof leaks, lifted shingles, broken tabs or tiles
Leaking and/or dripping faucets, toilets
Broken Fixtures or Appliances
Should you choose to have a professional
home inspection prior to listing your home for sale, here are some suggestions
that will help make the inspection more thorough and go smoother.
2. Ensure that pets will not interfere with the inspection. Ideally they will be removed from the home during the inspection period;
3. Replace any light bulbs that are burned out to avoid an in-operable item in the report which might suggest an electrical problem;
4. Test and replace batteries as needed in all smoke and carbon monoxide detectors;
5. Check your HVAC air filters, replace dirty filters;
6. Remove any wood or cellulose based materials stored against your foundation or left in your crawlspace. These items will be listed as conducive debris for wood destroying organisms;
7. Remove any household items stored in front of appliances, HVAC equipment, water heaters, service panels, attic access, and crawlspace access;
8. Remove any locks which limit accessibility to equipment or areas;
9. Trim back vegetation away from the house and roof;
Eventually your buyers are going to have an inspection done, you might as well know right now what they are going to find that may possibly create stumbling blocks later on.
PRE-PURCHASE HOME INSPECTIONS: Homebuyers benefit from a professional inspection by gaining knowledge about the true condition of the home they are planning to purchase. Homes are not perfect, even new construction can and do have problems from time to time. Our quality home inspection can provide the necessary and valuable information necessary to make an informed purchase decision. We cannot emphasize enough, the value and necessity of an extensive home inspection prior to the home buyer's final commitment to purchase a home.
1 YR WARRANTY INSPECTIONS: New homes generally have a 1 year warranty where the builder repairs or replaces defective materials and/or workmanship. A quality home inspection can point out defects that are the builders responsibility to fix within the warranty period.
