Woodinville Homeowners: House Inspections Are Good For Selling a Home

So you are planning to sell your home! Have you done everything you can to insure a successful close? How do you make your home more desirable than anything else on the market? Simple processes can lead to a successful close without any last-minute complications.

In today’s market, buyers expect to negotiate for a better price and/or more concessions from the seller. Eliminate most of the problems and address the negotiation in a positive position.

Many sellers clean and stage the home, freshen with new paint and carpet and concentrate on maintaining the landscaping. This may get your home an offer, but it does not guarantee a sale. Even with these, problems can develop after the purchase and sale agreement has been signed and sellers are envisioning the move to a new home.

After agreeing on a purchase price, sellers face the hurdle of the inspection and the uncertainty of what additional repairs need to be made. The excitement or relief of a sale could turn into disappointment several weeks later. There is only one way to eliminate problems, save money and even ensure that the sell is completed.

Get a home inspection before you put your home on the market. Here are some things to consider: 

• Problems revealed by these inspections can be solved before they infect your sale with an incurable case of "Buyer’s Remorse." You will eliminate the risk of losing your buyer because of fears that there will be huge expenses in upgrading and maintaining the home.
• You’ll save money because minor repairs can be completed upfront, avoiding expensive last-minute overtime or unnecessary charges.

I asked Bruce MacKintosh, President of  Centennial Home Inspection Inc., what types of problems are generally found in an inspection. He cited water in the crawl space as the No. 1 offending source. Since no one makes it a habit of inspecting the crawl space, homeowners are often unaware that a problem exists. When addressed before the home is sold, the seller may find that simply diverting the drain away from the home will cure the problem. If water is found during the buyer’s inspection, a seller may have to hire a licensed contractor to perform unnecessary and expensive work. MacKintosh added that "it is even more critical today to have a pre-inspection because sellers generally do not have the equity to do a $5,000 or $10,000 fix or replacement. We can help them save that equity."

Another cause for concern is repairs done by the seller. Without proper training or understanding, homeowners can actually cause more problems than they fix.  Amateurs doing critical wiring or plumbing and not getting the required permits always send a red flag to the buyer. An inspector can find any discrepancies and the seller can have them repaired to code.

Problems are not the only thing listed in an inspection. A home inspection also points out the positive aspects of a home. A buyer can be assured up front that he or she is buying a well-maintained home in good condition.

A pre-inspection will cost several hundred dollars but the savings could reach into the thousands. Many real estate agents understand that representing their clients effectively includes encouraging them to invest in a pre-inspection. Paying for a pre-inspection should be part of the advertising budget of any real estate agent. To be certain that you are working with a qualified inspector, you will want to make certain the inspector is a member of the American Society of Home Inspectors in order to be certain of his or her qualifications, experience and ethics. 

Joan Probala is the managing broker for Issaquah Windermere (Windermere Real Estate/East Inc.). She has 30 years of experience in real estate, construction and sales.

Editor's note: You can ask your real estate agent to recommend a home inspection company, if you're in the market for one.