Top 4 Mistakes Buyers and Sellers Make with Home Inspections
We have been in the home inspection business for a long time. After a while we’ve been able to develop a list of the top 4 mistakes we’ve noticed many home buyers and sellers make with home inspections. Some of these mistakes can be costly. All it takes is a few strategic questions to avoid them. Take a look at our top 4 below.
Research your Inspector
Great online reviews are a good start but you can take your research a step further. There are a few key questions you need to ask any inspector before hiring them:
- How long have you been inspection homes? Or how long has your business been operating in this area?
- How many inspections have you done?
- Do you have any certifications or formal training? What about ongoing education?
The answers to these questions will tell you a lot about the inspector you are interviewing and can also help set your expectations for their work.
Attend the Inspection
An inspection will take a minimum two hours. Even longer depending on the size of the home. While the inspector might say attending is optional, you should be there. The reality is, if you don’t see it, you don’t understand it. Most things are much easier to explain in person. More importantly, you have an opportunity to ask questions about any concerns or issues you have with the findings. A good inspector can give you an estimate of how much money you’ll need to put into necessary repairs.
Prep your Home
This advice is particularly for the home seller. A home inspection will take longer, and be more frustrating for your inspector, if you do not prepare your home. If you have a lock on your attic access or sheds, the home inspector will need access. Highly cluttered areas can also be an issue, in front of an access point for example. A home inspection may “feel invasive” to the owner but a repeat inspection would be more inconvenient.
Make proper repairs
Last but not least is tackling repairs. Many times a home owner will try to DY repairs themselves or get them done cheap. Also known as “the handyman special”. This will show up in the inspection repeat and could create the need for a re-inspection. Save yourself the hassle and get any major (or minor) repairs professionally fixed.
Remember that a home inspector is aiming to help both the seller and buyer. We want to make both parties aware of any minor or major issues about a home before completing the sale. We’re also happy to make recommendations to vendors we trust. Give us a call today!
