After living in one place for any length of time, a home inspection might be the last thing on your mind. This all changes when it comes time to buy or sell a property.
Then, every sound, scratch, or slight imperfection suddenly seems more substantial. If the seller doesn’t notice, a potential buyer and their agent absolutely will.
Just as you would (hopefully) not diagnose your physical health without an expert opinion, it’s also highly advisable to seek out professional advice regarding the integrity of your home. Today, let’s talk about what to expect from a home inspection as a seller or a buyer.
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Home Inspections as a Marketing Tool
It is by no means mandatory to get a home inspection before listing your house. Many homeowners choose to forego this step, and they find a buyer regardless.
However, the question at hand is not “do you HAVE to get a home inspection?” It’s “Should you get a home inspection?” Every situation has its nuances, but in 99% of all cases, the answer is “absolutely.”
It pays to view a pre-listing inspection as both a diagnostic and marketing tool. You want to attract the highest number of serious buyers and receive the best offers. For that to happen, you need to instill a sense of confidence in anyone considering your home.
A clean pre-listing inspection helps to set the buyer’s mind at ease. It also demonstrates transparency, creating a higher level of trust that makes it easier to negotiate. You cannot buy this kind of effective marketing at any cost.
As a diagnostic tool, arranging a pre-listing inspection can save you significant money and headaches. Imagine the report turns up a minor issue that costs a few hundred dollars to fix, but would otherwise scare off a skittish buyer. Armed with this information, you can make the repair and present your home with confidence.
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The Possible Downside of Pre-Listing Inspections for Sellers
Some homeowners hesitate to order a pre-listing inspection, and not just because of the slight cost or time involved. What happens if the report comes back with an expensive problem that you don’t want to fix?
If you don’t know about any issues, you might be off the hook when it comes to Mandatory Disclosure Laws in the US. Once it’s all there on paper for everyone to see, you can no longer claim that you are unaware.
All the same, it’s rarely a good idea to hide your head in the sand, at least in our opinion. If you don’t have a pre-listing inspection, the buyer almost definitely will request one. More often than not, a simple flaw isn’t the dealbreaker you think it is. The buyer could still negotiate, especially if you’re willing to make a price concession.
If the buyer’s inspection reveals a problem you didn’t disclose, you’ve lost all the trust the pre-listing report would have created. The buyer will likely feel as though you are hiding something, even if you legitimately did not know.
What Do Home Inspectors Look For?
A home inspector does not show up and start tearing down walls or climbing through tiny crawl spaces in the hopes of spotting a critical flaw. The process is much more casual than you might think.
They conduct a non-invasive visual inspection of the home’s structural components, actively looking for problems that could become very expensive later.
- A home’s roof, foundation, electrical, plumbing and HVAC systems are prime areas of focus. The main components of scrutiny essentially boil down to water damage, safety hazards, and structural integrity.
- Typically, a home inspector does not check for mold, asbestos, termites or radon, although they may be included in expanded services upon request.
Results from an inspection can also vary according to the climate. For example, water damage is a definite concern in Florida due to the humidity and high levels of rainfall. In Nevada, we have the opposite issue. Dry, hot temperatures, coupled with very little cloud cover, can lead to UV damage to the roof.
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Should the Seller Be Present During an Inspection?
As the homeowner, it is your right to be present during an inspection of any kind. Whether or not it is advisable depends on the circumstances.
For a pre-listing inspection that you have requested, it’s a good idea to be home. That way, you can ask or answer any questions that come up and address any specific areas of concern. While you will receive a written report, it still helps to get valuable advice on repairs or improvements in person.
During a buyer-ordered inspection, it is usually better to vacate. Once again, it comes down to trust and confidence.
- If you hover, the buyer or their agent may believe you have something to hide.
- If you leave them to it, you demonstrate confidence in the quality of your home.
For your peace of mind, you can rest assured that the buyer’s agent must follow the strict protocols as laid out by the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR). Nevertheless, it doesn’t hurt to secure your belongings by locking them away or storing them off-site.
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Home Inspections Are Self-Explanatory for a Buyer
When you’re the one searching for a new home, an inspection almost goes without saying. A house can look absolutely stunning on the outside, but a smart investment depends on more than a meticulous appearance.
If you fall in love with the home, you might be tempted to throw caution to the wind and make an offer, only to find unexpected and expensive issues after moving in.
A home inspection allows you to stay objective about the real condition of the property. Without this report, you’re going in with too little information and emotions that are running high. With an investment as substantial as a house, this may not be a leap of faith you want to make.
For example, if everything looks good, except the roof needs to be replaced, you have what you need to make an informed decision. Your agent might advise you to negotiate a price concession to cover the cost, make a conditional offer with the expectation that the seller will make the repair, or simply move on to the next listing.
If the home inspection comes up clean, you can be confident in your decision to place an offer on the place you love. Whatever you decide, an experienced and trusted real estate agent can guide you through a successful and well-negotiated transaction.
Do you want more tips on how to sell your home in today’s market? Let one of our Provix real estate agents guide you to a successful outcome. Reach out to Info@ProvixGroup.com or call 727-607-8023 to get started.
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