Illinois Home Inspector

Quality Home Inspections Provided In The St.Louis Metro-East

Pre-Listing Inspections

                                                                                                          Home Inspector Conroe Texas

                                                                                                           "How To Sell Your Home For More"

   Listing inspections are very good for the homeowner who may not be in tune with the condition of their home. A great many sales are cancelled due to the buyer's shock at the "functional condition" of the home. It may look great, but have serious technical, safety, or functional issues present without the owner's knowledge. Having the home inspected prior to placing on the market is the ideal way to identify and either repair or disclose the issue found in the Inspection Report. Obviously, repairing the items would be the most beneficial towards completing the sale. However, there may be financial reasons where the owner can't make the repairs. Disclosing them up front and pricing the home based upon that disclosure will often times produce a higher net sales price for the owner.

Eventually your buyers are going to conduct an inspection. You may as well know what they are going to find by getting there first. The author points out that having an inspection performed ahead of time helps in many other ways:

It allows you to see your home through the eyes of a critical third-party. It helps you to price your home realistically.

It permits you to make repairs ahead of time so that ... Defects won't become negotiating stumbling blocks later.

There is no delay in obtaining the Use and Occupancy permit.

You have the time to get reasonably priced contractors or make the repairs yourself, if qualified.                     

It may encourage the buyer to waive the inspection contingency.

It may alert you of items of immediate personal concern, such as mold, radon gas, or active termite infestation.

It may relieve prospect's concerns and suspicions.

    It reduces your liability by adding professional supporting documentation to your disclosure statement.

    Alerting you to immediate safety issues before agents and visitors tour your home 

    Copies of the inspection report along with receipts for any repairs should be made available to potential buyers.

     

Tips To Help You With Your Home Inspection

 
  1. Confirm that water, electric and gas service are on, with gas pilot lights burning.
  2. Ensure pets won't hinder the inspection. Ideally, they should be removed from premises or secured outside. Tell your agent about any pets at home.
  3. Replace burned out bulbs to avoid a "Light is inoperable" report that may suggest an electrical problem.
  4. Test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, and replace dead batteries.
  5. Clean or replace dirty HVAC air filters. They should fit securely.
  6. Remove stored items, debris and wood from foundation. These may be cited as "conducive conditions" for termites.
  7. Remove items blocking access to HVAC equipment, electric service panels, water heaters, attics and crawl spaces.
  8. Unlock areas the inspector must access - attic doors or hatches, electric service panels, closets, fence gates and crawl spaces.
  9. Trim tree limbs to 10' from the roof and shrubs from the house to allow access.
  10. Attend to broken or missing items like doorknobs, locks and latches; windowpanes, screens and locks; gutters, downspouts and chimney caps.
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