If you’re selling your house, you might be wondering how to prepare for the home inspection process. We all know the perfect home doesn’t exist. A home that has been lived in usually has some damage or needed repairs, and they may not be visible to the untrained eye. That’s why real estate buyers typically hire a professional home inspector before buying a house.
For sellers, having a clear understanding of the home inspection process and preparing your home for the day of the inspection will not only help the transaction go more smoothly, it can even help protect the deal!
Here are our top 3 tips to prepare you for your home inspection and prevent the buyer from backing out of the purchase.
1. Know What to Expect
A home inspector evaluates the overall condition of the home at the time of the inspection to ensure that its major systems and components are installed and working properly. Some of these include:
- Water heaters
- Heating and cooling equipment
- Plumbing systems
- Electrical service
The home inspector evaluates the condition and quality of the home objectively and then documents those findings in a report.
Prior to the home inspection, it wouldn’t hurt to go around your house and look for anything that needs minor repair. Get your appliances and major systems serviced to ensure they’re in good shape. Some due diligence here could mean you’ll have less to worry about come inspection time and it will show the buyer that the home has been well maintained.
2. Consider Getting a Pre-Listing Inspection
Avoid surprises by getting a pre-listing inspection. At first mention, this may sound like a waste of money, but consider these advantages:
- A pre-listing inspection can reduce the stress of selling your home. You have the advantage of discovering problems in advance with ample time to obtain reasonable repair estimates and fix what is necessary at your convenience. You can also decide not to make repairs but disclose them to the buyer upfront. This demonstrates to the buyer that you’re dealing in good faith, and it builds trust.
- Get top-dollar for your home! If you get your home inspected prior to listing, you’ll know exactly what condition it’s in and what repairs need to be made. Budget these costs ahead of time and repair what you can to avoid giving the buyer reasons to negotiate a lower selling price.
- Speed up the sales process. Nothing drags out home deals like finding unexpected issues during the buyer’s inspection. Having a pre-listing inspection allows you to fix any issues ahead of time or disclose them up front so there are no surprises.
Selling your home is stressful, but you can limit the level of stress by being prepared. A pre-listing inspection makes the process a lot easier.
3. Avoid Common Deal Breakers
There are a multitude of reasons why some home deals fall through, but many of them can be avoided. Here are some common examples of scenarios that cause a buyer to back out of a deal and what a home seller can do to prevent it.
- Structural Issues
- Overcome potential objections by disclosing structural issues up front prior to listing the home and set the selling price accordingly.
- Check for moisture in your crawlspace. Make sure foundation vents are open. Make sure downspouts extend at least 4 ft to direct run-off water away from your home’s foundation.
- Lastly, the grading around your house should slope away from the perimeter by 1/2 inch per foot for 6-10 feet to protect your home’s structure from moisture.
- Safety Issues
- Make the necessary repairs to ensure your home has no safety hazards.
- Test for radon, possibly mold, if suspected, and, if necessary, hire a mitigation company.
- Pest Problems
- Before putting your home on the market, check thoroughly for any signs of termites or other pests that may be inhabiting your home. If you happen to find any bugs or critters, hire an exterminator or pest control company immediately.
Selling your home is a big life decision and process, but it doesn’t have to be a hassle. Avoid these common mistakes and you might close the deal faster than you thought was possible.
If you’re selling your home on the Colorado Western Slope and want to get a Pre-listing Inspection, contact A Firm Foundation Home Inspection today!
Thinking about Buying or Selling? Call or Text: 970-417-9375
Guest blog by Tate Coulter of A Firm Foundation Home and Building Inspections in Montrose, CO. Copyright 2019-2021 Keller Williams Colorado West Realty, LLC. If you have a brokerage relationship with another agency, this is not intended as a solicitation. Equal opportunity housing provider. Each office is independently owned and operated. For sale by owner data not included in research findings. Sales data reflects sales from homes not limited to the Atha Team LLC. This information was gathered from Keller Williams, The National Association of Realtor, CoreLogic data analysis firm, Montrose Association of Realtors, and the Mortgage Brokers Association. This data is considered accurate, but is not guaranteed. Copyright Atha Team LLC 2019-2021. All Rights Reserved.