Different industry experts and authority figures will be involved when you sell a home. These professionals include realtors, mortgage lenders, and even local authorities. An example of the many individuals that will give their professional opinion on the property is a home inspector.
Home inspectors are necessary to ensure the safety of a building before a sale can be finalized. They will conduct an assessment for potential building defects like cracking walls, plumbing leaks, or roofing system damage, to name a few. While their presence may seem like a threat to your sale, they perform an integral function in a successful transaction between home buyers and homeowners.
Clearing Confusion Regarding Home Inspectors
A successful sale is all about maintaining your credibility with your potential buyer. For this reason, home inspectors provide the proper assessment of a property for all parties involved. However, not all homeowners are aware of the exact specifics regarding a home inspector. Hopefully, clearing doubts on who they are and what they do will help you prepare for their participation in the home buying process.
In this article, we'll answer four questions you may have about home inspectors
1. What Happens When a Home Inspector Finds a Problem?
Many homeowners fear the prospect of a home inspector finding faults in their properties. Contrary to popular belief, this doesn't always lead to a lost sale. Although this is potentially the worst outcome, both parties can still negotiate regarding the property's current condition. The buyer may opt to lower the purchasing price or offer renovation treatments with an added cost.
2. Are All Home Inspections the Same?
For residential properties, there are two kinds of property inspections you could expect, depending on the client's intent. A Buyer's inspection occurs after an offer is presented but before the closing. This allows the buyers to seek potential renegotiation or clarification on the property's different utilities and structural conditions.
On the other hand, a seller's inspection occurs before the property is listed in the market. This allows homeowners to pre-empt potential complications in the negotiation process and address property potential issues. Since it's not mandatory to hire a home inspector, you won't know if your buyer will choose to do so. This is why the safest option is to hire one yourself before entertaining offers for your property.
3. How Long Will a Home Inspector Survey My Property?
For an average-sized house, the inspection will usually take a few hours to go over the exterior, interior, and the surrounding neighborhood. This should be enough time for the inspector to note potential structural defects or hazards. After this visit, they may finalize their report after three to four days.
4. Do I Need to Attend a Home Inspection?
You don't have to be present during a home inspection, and neither does your prospective buyer, especially for buyer inspections. However, it can help your property's case to coordinate with the home inspector on their findings before they create a formal report. On the other hand, you may also compromise the inspection or reveal too many skeletons in the closet. It's entirely up to you if you should be on-site for an inspection or not.
Conclusion
Although home inspections can seem like a critique of your property's faults, they can also relieve your potential home buyers' doubts. With a reliable home inspector to give their professional input, your buyers will be more willing to accept your terms after a positive assessment.
If you need home inspection services in Birmingham, AL, we're the right company to call. Our home inspectors give our clients a fair and accurate assessment of their assets' condition. Schedule your inspection by calling us at (205) 903-4508 today!