Home Inspections !

The first thing all Sellers and Buyers need to know about a home inspection is that they very important to any successful transaction and are typicaly part of any Offer to Purchase that states that the Offer is subject to the "findings" of the home inspection. They are for informational purposes and it is not a pass or fail situation. We always recommend a home inspection on any purchase.

It's important that whether you are a Buyer or Seller that you understand the inspection process and how it's conducted. What follows is a general guideline and recommendations for both Buyers and Sellers.

SELLERS:

1. When listing your house, I will recommend possible small repairs that when completed won't necessarily increase the value of the property but will increase the marketability of the property. I will also point out what a home inspector will call attention to. When you pay attention to the little things it shows that you care about your property.
2. When the home inspection is conducted, I will ask that you vacate the property for up to 3 hours. This gives the Buyer a chance to inspect the property without the Seller looking over their shoulder.
3. The home inspection report when completed is the property of the Buyer and the Buyer at their option may or may not pass it on to you. If there are issues it's certainly to the Buyers benefit to make you aware of the issue via the inspection report.
4. I know this sounds like common sense but when your property is inspected you should pull out all the stops and make it sparkle and shine. Your buyer is going to be spending up to 3 hours at the property. They will notice everything so do what you can to make it look good!

BUYERS:

1. Choose a licensed, insured home inspector who can deliver the report immediately following the home inspection. If we are representing you as a Buyer's agent we can recommend more than one good home inspector to you; if we are representing the Seller we cannot. It any event do your homework, check fee's, what's included and what's not. Ultimately, who you choose is up to you. Like any profession there are some inspectors who are better than others. To be on the safe side you can always check references or the better business bureau.
2. No home is perfect. Any home you buy is going to need something. Some repairs will be small, others may be bigger. When you get the report from the inspector, most Buyers look to the inspector for that thumbs up sign, or thumbs down. You won't get it. They simply deliver the news. Major issues of concern to any Buyer are heating, electric, roof, foundation and structural issues. There will always be cracked window panes, a burner that's not working properly etc. Pay attention to the big stuff, the little stuff can be done one day at a time.
3. Give your Agent and Seller a copy of the home inspection report. Yes, we know you paid for it but it's the Seller's home and they are curious too (especialy if you request any repairs). If it were your home and the Buyer refused to give you a copy of the report, it sets bad precedence with the Seller. This atmosphere of mistrust can follow all the way to the closing.

Lastly, the inspection process is a necessary step for both the Buyer & Seller. Tom Loud for Success! has the experience to give you the information you need to get you through what is for most people a very awkward and scary part of the Buying & Selling process.