Seller Information
If you are selling a home, you will get the highest price in the shortest time, if your home is in top condition. You will want to find out about any unidentified problems before your house goes on the market. Almost all sales contracts include the condition that the contract is contingent upon completion of a satisfactory inspection. This is known as the inspection contingency. Buyers will typically insist that a professional home inspection be performed by an inspector they will hire. If the buyer’s inspector finds a problem, it could cause the buyer to get cold feet and the deal can often fall through. At best, surprise problems uncovered by the buyer’s inspector will cause delays in closing, and usually you will have to pay for repairs at the last minute, or take a lower price on your home.
It’s better to pay for your own inspection before putting your home on the market. Having a pre-listing inspection will make the entire sales process easier. Find out about any hidden problems and get them corrected in advance or present the items “as-is” or reflected in the listing price. Otherwise, you can count on the buyer’s inspector finding them, at the worst possible time, causing delays, and costing you more money.
One of the key benefits of having the inspection done early is that if there are any problems discovered that need to be repaired, you can have the repairs done on your own terms, on your own schedule. When a problem isn’t found until the buyer has an inspection performed the deal you’ve worked so hard to get accomplished may fall apart unless you act quickly to get the repairs completed or you may have to take a lower price to keep the deal moving. In either case, you’ll almost certainly have more headaches and spend more money than if you had known about the problem and had it repaired before negotiations began. You could save thousands by simply being able to shop around and get competitive bids from contractors, rather than being forced into paying for a rush job at the last minute.
Buyer Information
When buying a home, you should always have a professional home inspection performed. You need to know exactly what you are getting. The professional home inspection will reveal any problems with the home so that they may be addressed before you close the deal and invest your money.
When we inspect the home we will look at all the systems that make up the building such as:
- Structural elements, foundation, framing, etc.
- Plumbing systems
- Roofing
- Electrical systems
- Cosmetic condition, paint, siding, etc.
The inspection report will tell you what needs to be repaired and what routine maintenance tasks you should perform to keep the house in top condition.
You should request an inspection at the time you make a formal offer and make sure the contract has an inspection contingency. Then, arrange for an independent inspector of your choosing to inspect the house and provide you a detailed inspection report. If you are not comfortable with the deficiencies disclosed, you can negotiate for a lower purchase price or better terms to compensate for the anticipated repairs.
A professional home inspection will reduce the risk of costly surprises with one of the most expensive purchases you will ever make. Our pre-purchase inspection will assist you in making a fact-based decision regarding your purchase.