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Buyer Home Inspections
A buyer's
home inspection is an unbiased independent visual examination of the
physical structure and systems of a home conducted by a licensed
professional before you buy the home. Buying a home is probably the most
expensive purchase you will ever make. This is no time to shop for a cheap
inspection. The cost of a home inspection is very small relative to the home
being inspected. The additional cost of hiring a licensed inspector is
almost insignificant. As a homebuyer, you have recently been crunching the
numbers, negotiating offers, adding up closing costs, shopping for mortgages
and trying to get the best deals. Do not stop now. Do not let your real
estate agent, a patty-cake inspector or anyone else talk you into skimping
here. Licensed professional real estate inspectors perform the best
inspections by far and earn their fees many times over. They do more, they
deserve more, and yes they generally charge a little more. Do yourself a
favor and pay a little more for the quality inspection you deserve. To learn
more, see what is included in a home inspection.
Seller Home
Inspections (also called Pre-Listing Inspections)
Seller
inspections are becoming more popular because they virtually eliminate all
the pitfalls and hassles associated with waiting to do the inspection until
a buyer is found. In many ways, waiting to schedule the inspection until
after a home goes under agreement, is too late. Seller inspections are
arranged and paid for by the seller, usually just before the home goes on
the market. The seller is the inspector's client. The inspector works for
the seller and generates a report for the seller. The seller then typically
makes multiple copies of the report and shares them with potential buyers
that tour the home for sale.
Some
advantages of seller inspections are:
The seller
can choose a their own inspector rather than be at the mercy of the buyer's
choice of inspector.
The seller
can schedule the inspection at the their own convenience.
It might
alert the seller of any items of immediate personal concern, such as safety
issues.
The seller
can assist the inspector during the inspection, something normally not done
during a buyer's inspection.
The report
can help the seller realistically price the home if problems exist.
The report
can help the seller substantiate a higher asking price if problems don't
exist or have been corrected.
Reveals
problems ahead of time which might make the home show better.
Gives the
seller time to make repairs and shop for competitive contractors.
Removes
over-inflated buyer procured estimates from the negotiation table.
The
report might alert the seller to any obvious issues, before agents and
visitors tour the home.
The report
provides a third-party, unbiased opinion to offer to potential buyers.
A seller
inspection permits a clean home inspection report to be used as a marketing
tool.
A seller
inspection is the ultimate gesture in forthrightness on the part of the
seller.
The
report might relieve a prospective buyer's unfounded suspicions, before they
walk away.
A seller
inspection lightens negotiations and 11th-hour renegotiations.
The report
might encourage the buyer to waive the inspection contingency.
The deal
is less likely to fall apart the way they often do when a buyer's inspection
unexpectedly reveals a problem, last minute.
The report provides full-disclosure protection
from future legal claims.
To learn more, see what is included in a
home inspection.
Warranty New Home Inspections
This inspection is done after you have been in a
brand new home for 11 months. Most builders give you a 1 year warranty on a
new home. This is your last chance to find defects within the home before
the warranty expires. The inspection is done the same as a regular home
inspection which examines over 150 components of the structural, mechanical,
and electrical systems of the home.
Additional Buildings on the Property
Inspection of any additional buildings on the
property is available. These could include storage buildings, garden sheds,
work shops, detached garages, or guest houses. These inspections would
follow the same guidelines as a home inspection. Inspection of extra
buildings are an added service to a home inspection and will require an
additional fee. |
