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Selling A Home in a Down Market (HINT: Hire A Home Inspector)

By
Home Inspector with HABITEC Home and Building Inspections, LLC

 

THE HOME INSPECTOR'S REVIEW 

Everyone knows 2007 was a tough year to sell a home and 2008 may be just as tough.  With thousands more homes on the market than usual it is harder than ever to make a home that is for sale stand out.  And it is really hard to get your asking price!  There are plenty of reminders of what to do to get your home ready for sale.  The list usually looks as follows:

De-Clutter

De-Personalize

Spruce up the Front Entry

Paint and Caulk Where Necessary

Clean, Clean, Clean!

Listen to Your Realtor

The previous list usually can be completed by the average homeowner.  Yet there are two more IMPORTANT steps a homeowner can take that may make the difference in a down market.  They are:

Hire a Home Stager

 Complete a HOME INSPECTOR'S REVIEW

A HOME INSPECTOR'S REVIEW is a comprehensive visual walk-through evaluation of your home from a Home Inspector's perspective.  This REVIEW can be used to help sell your home, or can be used as an annual checkup to make sure your home stays in great shape. 

A Home Inspector's REVIEW is not a Home Inspection.  Unlike a Home Inspection, a Home Inspector's REVIEW does not end with a written report.  In about 2 hours (for a 4000 square foot home), with the homeowner present, a HABITEC Inspector (HABITEC Home and Building Inspections, LLC, 615-376-2753) will visibly check your house in a comprehensive manner.  This will include visual observation of the exterior of the house from the ground level, then the interior including the attic and crawl space from their respective entry points.  (For an additional charge the homeowner can request that the Inspector enter the crawl space and/or attic for a thorough Inspection)

Since a written report is not produced during the Home Inspector's Review, the homeowner is encouraged to take notes so they can have any issues raised by the Inspector taken care of. 

HABITEC believes it is better to find out about required maintenance before the closing is only days away.   Last minute "surprises" may have an adverse effect on the timing of the closing, or cause a buyer to cancel the purchase altogether.  In a down real estate market it is best to do all you can to separate your home from the competition. 

For questions call Richard or Ron at HABITEC Home and Building Inspections, LLC, at 615-376-2753!  HABITEC serves the entire Middle Tennessee area.  We offer Residential (home) and Commercial building inspections, mold inspections and evaluations, radon testing and water quality analysis.

 

Comments (4)

Kevin McGrath
Long & Foster Real Estate Companies- Fredericksburg/Spotsylvania - Fredericksburg, VA
Long & Foster Real Estate Companies
Interesting idea - I would have to think that through - I am not sure how that would settle in with disclosure rules - could open up whole big bag of worms - but a very interesting idea.
Dec 30, 2007 03:19 AM
Gary Bland R (S) E-Pro, ABR
Hawaii Life Real Estate Brokers - Wailea, HI
This is very true to get the home ready and know what will be coming if there are problems.  Just cleaning is a good start.
Dec 30, 2007 03:22 AM
Robert Dirienzo
HABITEC Home and Building Inspections, LLC - Franklin, TN
Home Inspections - Nashville TN
Thank you Kevin.  I am sure you are aware that disclosure is always the responsibility of the seller.  Issues that surface during a Home Inspector's Review would normally be "fixed" before the house is sold so that the item would no longer have to be disclosed.  This is similar to a homeowner finding a leaking faucet and fixing it themselves.  Once fixed, I do not think it has to be disclosed.
Dec 30, 2007 03:27 AM
Robert Dirienzo
HABITEC Home and Building Inspections, LLC - Franklin, TN
Home Inspections - Nashville TN
Thank you Gary.  You are right about cleaning.  Some people say cleaning is the most important aspect of getting a home ready for sale.
Dec 30, 2007 03:30 AM