Pre-sale Home Inspection

More Owners Use Home Inspections at Listing as a Selling Tool..

A new marketing tool for selling a home is beginning to emerge as the residential real estate market grows less driven by demand, and more by the prospect of realistic prices: Pre-Sale Home Inspections for sellers, usually performed at listing time. While professional home inspection is not a new concept, the idea that sellers can benefit from them is beginning to gain acceptance as the number of homes listed for sale continues to grow, making for a fiercely competitive selling market. Home sellers need to become educated about the process of selling in the particular market they live in. Twenty years ago, professional pre-purchase home inspections were virtually unheard of in most parts of the country. Today, they are generally considered routine as the home buying public has become more educated about the process.

Most real estate professionals have also come to the conclusion that home inspections make good sense, for all parties involved. Many even recommend them to their buying customers. In many regions, standard real estate contracts now include an inspection contingency clause that outlines how the inspection results affect the agreement. Specifically, the clause outlines what the options are (for the buyer and seller) in the event that major, costly defects are uncovered during the inspection.

Many homeowners cannot be completely objective about their homes. After all, your home is your personal refuge and there is usually a great deal of emotion tied to it. Hiring qualified real estate professionals, such as a licensed broker or agent, is the first step towards gaining objectivity towards objectivity when selling a home. But getting more involved in the process yourself, learning as much as you can, and providing the extra effort can make the difference in this highly competitive market. One of the biggest advantages to a seller is a professional home inspection at listing time, which helps set a realistic selling price. The market analysis prepared by your Realtor can help in determining a fair selling price for your home, but such an analysis usually doesn't reflect the true physical condition of the home and its systems. This is something that only a professional home inspector can do.

For example, if a house has been well maintained and upgraded over the years, a higher listing price will be justified by the inspection report, and not just by the opinion of the seller. On the other hand, if the house has problems, the selling price should reflect those deficiencies. The combination of a professional inspection report and a selling price that reflects deficiencies that reflects the true condition of the house could minimize any re-negotiation of the sale price and speed up the whole process.

"Seller Beware"

There is another important rationale for a seller to have an inspection at the time of listing. In our society, real estate, as with many other practices has become increasingly litigious. It's better to disclose—at the beginning—any problems that buyers will most likely find out on there own, either through a pre-purchase inspection or after moving in. The new rule of law in real estate transactions is becoming "seller beware", as more and more court decisions and state legislation call for full disclosure to the buyer of defects in a house. Practically speaking, the homeowner has the most intimate knowledge of the home and can be held liable for misrepresenting its condition. Yet in reality, the majority of homeowners know little about the absolute condition of the structural and mechanical systems in their homes.

With a Pre-Sale home inspection, sellers have the opportunity to address any defects an inspector might find and have them repaired before a possible buyer even sees the house. That gives the seller and Realtor peace of mind that the property they're listing has no surprises awaiting them in the contract or in the appraisal for non-HUD homebuyers. It also eliminates last-minute price negotiating and the possibility that buyers might develop cold feet regarding a sale once their buyer inspection uncovers a needed repair, often bringing into question the whole purchase.

A professional pre-sale inspection is also an effective selling tool, reassuring buyers that what they see is what they get. It also eliminates the buyer-beware attitude and can speed up negotiations between buyer and seller.

Pre-inspection peace of mind

A professional pre-sale home inspection puts a written document in the hands of the potential buyer, attesting to the reputability of the listing salesperson and the serious intent of the seller. It not only explains any defects that exist but also highlights the assets of the home, pointing out which major systems have recently been updated or are in proper operating condition...all the more reason to buy the house.
( excerpt from Realtor Magazine Online - www.realtor.org ) .

As with any complete home inspection, our inspections examine the condition of hundreds of items in your home, or future home. This includes components of the plumbing, electrical, heating and cooling systems that are accessible. In the case of single family homes and multi-unit properties, the exterior walls of the building are inspected along with the roof, roofing structure and drainage systems, garage, foundation and other structural items. Home inspections are not intended to point out every small problem or any non-visible defects in a home. Most minor or cosmetic flaws, for example, should be apparent without the aid of a professional. The home inspection should not be confused with an appraisal, a municipal code inspection, or a guarantee of any kind.
Items covered in a complete WaterMark Home Inspection report:

Heating
Air Conditioning
Roofing
Plumbing
Electrical
Fireplaces
Chimneys
Foundations
Attics
Driveways
Porches and Patios
Built-In Appliances
Flooring
Ceilings
Roof
Doors
Sinks and Toilets
Structure and Foundation
Insulation and Ventilation
And much more…