Whether you’re a buyer or a seller, today I’ll provide you with some helpful tips about the home inspection process. Learn what you need to know here.
The home inspection process is a very high-stakes part of a real estate transaction both for buyers and sellers. If you’re a seller, you’ll have the inspector going through your home, examining things, and asking you lots of questions. Here are three things that sellers can do before a home inspection to keep you organized and to ensure the process goes smoothly:
1. Hire a professional to service your HVAC system. It always looks good to a home inspector if they see you’ve recently had it looked over. Even though buyers might not ask to have that done, it’s good to be one step ahead anyway.
2. Clear access to important places. The inspector will need to take a look at things like your furnace, electrical box, and the roof, so be sure to have those areas clear and accessible.
3. Provide relevant information to the inspector and buyer. If you have receipts for any work you’ve had done recently, those are useful to show to both the inspector and buyer.
“You’re paying a lot of money for this process, so be sure to pay close attention to the information the inspector passes on to you.”
Now, if you’re a buyer, you’ll want to be sure to pick a good inspector. I’d be happy to give you the names of some inspectors I know and trust. Here are a few points buyers will need to keep in mind:
1. Show up and pay attention. The inspection is one of your closing costs and can range between $500 and $1,500, depending on the kind of house you’re buying. You’re paying a lot of money for this process, so be sure to pay close attention to the information the inspector passes on to you.
2. Take notes. There will be a lot of information you’ll want to remember, and the inspector will sometimes tell you something verbally that may not end up being written on the report. I recommend that you bring a pen and paper to the inspection and take careful notes.
3. Show up with questions. As your real estate agent, I won’t be as qualified to answer your questions about the systems of the home, so be sure to think of some great questions to ask the inspector, who is an expert.
If you’d like any more information about the home inspection process, including referrals to quality inspectors, please feel free to reach out to me. I’d be happy to help you out.
