You bet’cha!!!!! I thought I would write about the importance of a seller having a home inspection before listing their house.
A home inspection gives the seller a chance to fix the critical items that can and, most likely, will be found when the buyer has an inspection done on the home prior to closing. These critical items can break a deal in no time flat. Once a seller knows of these critical items, he/she can either have them fixed or be prepared to reduce the price accordingly. An inspection will also let the seller know what the little “B.S.” items are going to be on the buyer’s inspection report. Most buyers will want everything fixed before they buy a house by a reputable contractor or service person and they will want the receipts as proof it was done professionally. So save all the receipts and make copies!
Buyers should also be sure to have an inspection, regardless of whether the seller has had an inspection. An inspection will assure the buyer that the seller had the critical items fixed properly, and that they have another set of eyes to see what else might have been missed with the first inspection. Buyers should insist on seeing copies of receipts for the repair work done on the home. This will assure you that the work was done by a professional and not just the handy work done by the seller.
In addition, it is absolutely critical to have an inspection on any foreclosed, short sale or HUD home. You may or may not be able to get the items fixed by the sellers of those properties, but at least you know what you are getting into when you buy the house. This inspection will also let you know how much you may have to spend in renovating these particular properties once you buy them.
Just remember that an inspector can only assess what he can see. He cannot see through walls or the ground to determine if there are hidden problems in the walls or plumbing problems from the house to the street. All in all, I would say an inspection by a "Licensed" inspector can make all the difference in a real estate transaction and is a critical step in the home buying or selling process.
Christy Brannon is a licensed Realtor, working with Dwayne Walker Homes, Keller Williams Atlanta Metro East. (In other words, she helps people buy and sell their homes in Snellville and all of Gwinnett County!) You can contact her by email at cbrannon@dwaynewalkerhomes.com.
This article was really informative and helpful! Thank you Christy! You definitely seem to know your stuff! When I look to buy my first home I will be sure to contact you!
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