If this is your first home sale, you might be wondering about what your requirements are in terms of home inspections. A vital step in the closing process, professional home inspections are typically included in real estate contracts as a contingency (the sale is dependent upon their completion).
But, are there any situations in which a seller would get a home inspection?
In today’s post, we’re going to talk about why sellers might want to get their home inspection and how it could be useful to the home sale process overall.
To diagnose problems with your home
When you’re deciding on the asking price of your home, you’ll want to take into account all of the things that could potentially drive that price down. Inspectors will look for a number of issues in your home, which can save you from any surprises when a potential buyer orders their inspection of your home.
The further along in the home sale process when you discover an expensive repair that needs to be made, the more complicated it makes your home sale.
So, if you’re in any doubt about whether your home will need repairs now or in the near future, ordering an inspection could be a safe option.
What do inspectors look for?
When inspecting your home, a licensed professional will look at several things:
Exterior components of your home, such as cracks or broken seals on exterior surfaces, garage door function and safety, and so on.
The structural integrity of your home; checking your foundation for dangerous cracks where moisture can enter and cause damage in the form of mold or breaks in the foundation.
The roof of your home will be checked for things like broken or loose shingles or nearby tree branches that could damage your home or nearby power lines in a storm.
The HVAC system will be tested to make sure it’s running properly and efficiently and also that vents are clean and clear of debris.
Interior components of your home will be checked for safety and damage from things like pests and water damage.
Will the seller still order an inspection if my home just had one?
An inspection contingency is built into almost all real estate contracts to protect the interests of the buyer and seller alike.
In most circumstances, a buyer will want to get their own inspection performed. After all, they don’t know who you went to for an inspection and whether they were licensed in your state.
The bottom line
Ultimately, if you’re planning on selling your home in the near future and aren’t sure if your home may have any underlying issues, it’s usually a good idea to get an inspection to make sure you can plan for any repairs or inform potential buyers of any issues with your home.
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