Originally posted at: http://www.firstteam.com/blog/?p=6650
85% of home buyers request a home inspection so as a seller you need to know the facts. Usually the home inspection is done during the closing process and integrated into the purchase contract. In fact, most purchase contracts include a home inspection contingency clause stipulating that the buyer can back out if repairs and replacements aren’t made according to the findings of the inspection. Take the stress out of the crazy closing process and invest in your home inspection before your home even hits the market.
A common home inspection will take 2-3 hours and costs anywhere from $200 - $800. That’s a small price to pay in the grand scheme of your home sale so get ahead of the game and invest in a pre-sale inspection now.
Benefits of a pre-sale inspection:
- Attract buyers. With a pre-sale inspection, you give buyers peace of mind and a sense of certainty in the tumultuous home buying process. By providing the details of your home inspection when you list the house, you appear up front and honest which is a huge plus for any home buyer. Buyers will choose your home over others because the home inspection step is already done and they feel you are a trustworthy person to deal with.
- Help you decide what to repair or improve before you sell. If you have your home inspected before it hits the market, you will find out what needs to be repaired, replaced or disclosed to buyers. In other words, you can decide what is worth investing money into to fix and what is best left “as is.” Your inspector will clue you in to what needs to be updated in your home in order for it to be more attractive to buyers.
- Eliminate surprises down the road. If you have a bad (aka eventful) inspection during the closing process, your buyer could walk away and back out on the deal. In order to prevent that, it’s best to do the inspection before the sale. That way neither you nor your potential home buyers are surprised to learn that your home needs some repairs or mechanical replacements.
What does a home inspection cover?
Here is a checklist of the major structural and mechanical components a professional will inspect in your home. Each home inspection service may offer something a little different but these are the basics that you’ll need to get checked out. Keep in mind that in California, it is imperative to have a pest inspection. If your contractor doesn’t check for termites, you will have to have a separate inspection done for that as well.
- Plumbing
- Heating and Air Conditioning Units
- General Home Structure - foundation, framing, etc.
- Electric
- Exterior
- Roofing
- Doors & Windows
- Siding - stucco, brick, stone, etc.
- Insulation and Ventilation
- Termite/pest damage
How to Prepare For Your Home Inspection
There are only two things you need to do in order to prepare for your home inspection.
- Make sure you have clear and clean access to key appliances the inspector will be looking at i.e. furnace, water heater & circuit breaker. This is a great way to prepare your home for a sale because it’s important to have your house deep cleaned before any buyers walk through the door. The structural and mechanical components of your house will be inspected and on display quite a bit while the home is for sale, so cleaning them up now is a good idea.
- Get out of the house during the inspection. It’s hard for professionals to do their job with you hovering and commenting while they’re trying work. Of course you should regroup after the inspection to go over a summary of the contractor’s findings, but let them get their work done without you looking over their shoulder.
For more information on the home selling process, reach out to a First Team agent near you. Our agents are highly trained local experts and ready to help you in the home selling process. Call or email us now and we'll get you connected with the top agents in your area.
Email us at clientservices [at] firstteam.com
Call us at 888-870-1142
