Inspection Points You Need to Know Before Listing

According to industry experts, there are over 33 physical problems that will come under scrutiny during a home inspection when your home is for sale.

A Pre-Listing Whole House Inspection

   It is pretty safe to assume that a buyer who contracts to buy your house will want to have a professional whole house inspection conducted. Most sale contracts are written with a "contingent upon an acceptable whole house inspection" clause. So why not wait until you have a buyer who wants and will pay for an inspection? While many sellers do wait for just this situation, there are a few compelling reasons for you, the seller, to invest in a professional whole house inspection before listing your house.

1) If you were planning to do any cosmetic repairs or remodeling before listing your house, an inspection may reveal additional defects that your cosmetic repairs could have masked. A pre-listing inspection gives you the opportunity to fix possible underlying problems right the first time. This saves you the time, trouble, and money of fixing a seemingly small repair, then finding out there is a larger problem, forcing you to destroy your work, fix the underlying problem, and then do the cosmetic repair all over again.
2) You will know, in advance, of defects. You will have an opportunity to repair them before the first potential buyer ever sees your house. Experience has shown that when a buyer, through their own home inspection, finds a defect, they tend to look for more.
3) A completed whole house inspection signals to buyers that you are a conscientious seller. If a buyer is torn between two houses--your house and another that has not been pre-inspected--it is very possible they may feel more comfortable with yours.
4) It removes an "unknown" from your selling process. There are plenty of "unknowns" when you sell a house--when will it sell? How much will it sell for? Will the buyer's financing be approved? By discovering (and repairing) any defects up front, you remove at least one uncertainty from the selling process.

Finding a Whole House Inspector: If you are looking for a professional home inspector, our services page will help.Simply fill out their easy form and they will contact you will the names of pre-screened Inspectors in your area.

NOTE: Doing a pre-listing whole house inspection does not guarantee that a buyer will not opt to have another done at the time of the contract. Nor does it guarantee that the second inspector will not find items that first did not discover (or think important enough to note). What it does guarantee, though, is evidence that you have spent the time (and the money) to make sure that the house is without defect. In addition, if you get into a contract squabble over repairs at contract time, you will have evidence backing up your position.

A Professional House Inspection

What to look for in a Professional Home Inspector
	Questions that should be asked of a prospective home inspector:
	What is the inspector's experience? How many years have they been in the business and how many inspections do they do a year?
	Exclusively inspections? Beware of contractors who do house inspections "on the side"--they may be looking for work!
	What type of report? Will it be written or oral or both? Will the report contain suggestions for remedying deficiencies?
	How long will it take? A good house inspection should take between 2 and 4 hours, depending on the size of the house.
	What will be included in the inspection? See "What to look for in a professional home inspection" below.
	What certifications do they have? Are they ASHI certified?
	Does the inspector have Errors and Omissions Insurance? This gives you some level of protection should there be an "error or omission" in the inspection--meaning the inspector missed something.
What to look for in a Professional Home Inspection
	A competent and professional inspection will include a minimum of the following:
	Foundation: How is the structural integrity of the foundation? Is there any evidence of cracks, shifting, or moisture problems?
	General Construction: How is the quality of the general construction?
	Exterior: Is the house in need of exterior repairs or maintenance?
	Plumbing: How is the condition of the overall plumbing system? Any evidence of leaks or water pressure problems?
	Electrical: Do any dangerous electrical situations exist? Are there apparent code violations in the electrical system?
	Heating and Cooling Systems: What are the ages of the systems? Are the systems adequate for the size of the house? Have they been maintained properly?
	Interior: Do doors and windows open and close properly? Are floors firm and level?
	Kitchen: Are appliances functioning properly? Is the plumbing, including the dishwasher connection, in good repair?
	Baths: Is the floor solid? Are there any evidence of previous or current water leaks? Is the plumbing in good repair?
	Attached structures: What is the condition of any attached structure (sheds, decks, garages, etc.)
	Roof: What is the approximate age of the roof? What is the estimated remaining life of the roof? What is the condition of the roofing structure as well as the shingles?

A new report has been prepared which identifies the most common of these problems, and what you should know about them before you list your home for sale.

Whether you own an old home or a brand new one, there are a number of things that can fall short of requirements during a home inspection. If not identified and dealt with, any of these 11 items could cost you dearly in terms of repair. That's why it's critical that you read this report before you list your home. If you wait until the building inspector flags these issues for you, you will almost certainly experience costly delays in the close of your home sale or, worse, turn prospective buyers away altogether.

In most cases, you can make a reasonable pre-inspection yourself if you know what you're looking for. And knowing what you're looking for can help you prevent little problems from growing into costly and unmanageable ones.

To help homesellers deal with this issue before their home is listed, a FREE report entitled "11 Things You Need to Know to Pass Your Home Inspection" has been compiled which explains the issues involved.