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What To Expect At Your Home Inspection – Selling Your Home

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Industry Observer

What Can A Seller Expect?What to expect at a home inspection

When selling your Newburgh NY home, buyers will request a home inspection after their offer is accepted. They are usually given five to seven days to get the inspection completed before contracts are sent out from your attorney. What can you, as the owner expect?

The buyers will choose and directly hire an inspector to complete the task. The inspector, the buyers and their real estate agent will book the appointment and attend the inspection. I always recommend that owners leave the homeduring the appointment to allow buyers privacy during the process. As the seller you would want to make this as easy as possible for everyone.

A good home inspector will make a thorough review of the entire home providing the buyers with a detailed report including photos of many parts of the home. You can request to see this, but you are not entitled to a copy if they do not want to share.

These are a few of the things that you as an owner can help to make the process go well.

  • Make the home easily available at a convenient time
  • Allow at least 3 hours for the inspection to be completed
  • Provide inspector with clear access to all areas of the home. Don’t leave any doors  or closets locked up.
  • Attic – Make sure that nothing is blocking access. If a closet is the only way up, make sure to clear things for the inspector
  • All cars should be out of the garage for full view.
  • Clear areas in front of all mechancials such as electric panels,  furnace or a/c systems
  • Put away all small breakable items. Don’t leave out any valuables.
  • Pets – Dogs and cats will need to find a place to go during a home inspection. They can not only be in the way, but could be frightened by intruders in their space. Make arrangements for them to have a play date or an afternoon at the park with you.
  • If something isn’t working let the inspector know. If the washing machine leaks let him know so that he doesn’t flood your house.
  • If you have equipment that should not be turned off such as a computer or cable tv let him know prior to the inspection.
  • Make sure to alert inspector if something is dangerous to either operate, open or close. We don’t want you to let him open a garage door and it falls on his head.

Home Inspections from the sellers point of view can seem to be a bit intrusive. It is however an inevitable part of the process of buying any home. Basically the inspection is to turn on and operate all the mechanical systems in the home. The inspector is looking to see that things are in working order and to let the buyer know what to expect after moving in. For the buyer, it is part of determining the true value of a home while also learning about home ownership from a maintenance point of view. It can be a basic education for the buyer in learning the mechanical functions of the house they are looking to purchase.

Understanding the process makes it a bit easier for any seller to facilitate the needs of the buyer. Know that you have the right to ask who the inspector is and ask if they are licensed and insured. Your real estate agent will also give you some additional advice on the process at the time of the inspection of anything out of the ordinary. Once the inspection is over the agent will lock up the house and leave it in the same condition they found it.  You should hear back from your agent as to any concerns or problems found. It can take a couple of days for the buyers to receive their written report. It is their choice to share it if they have concerns over any items.

In the Hudson Valley, it is customary to sign contracts a few days after the home inspection. As a real estate agent showing my clients how the process works is just one part the services I provide. When a hiccup arises after a home inspection understanding how to resolve any issues makes for happy clients. Knowing how the system works makes the process much easier and allows you, the seller to relax. 

What To Expect At Your Home Inspection

published by: your real estate expert Janis Borgueta Key Properties of the Hudson Valley as a community service in Newburgh NY.  To receive more real estate information please subscribe to this blog.  Looking to buy a new home?  Search the MLS for New Homes in Newburgh NY. You can contact Janis at (845)-527-7115 or find her on Google+

Originally posted at  "What to Expect At Your Home Inspection" by Janis Borgueta of Key Properties of the Hudson Valley. Like what you see? Don’t forget to subscribe to my blog to keep updated with the latest Hudson Valley Real Estate, Community News and Homes on the market. 

Comments(28)

Rosie Crow
Serving Sugar Land, Richmond, Rosenberg, Missouri City - Sugar Land, TX
Exceeding Expectations. Delivering Results

Thanks for sharing.  I always advise buyers to get an inspection even if they are purchasing a newly constructed property.

Jan 05, 2014 02:35 AM
Bruce Swedal
Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate

Solid preparation tips for a home seller when getting ready for an inspection.

Jan 05, 2014 02:54 AM
MichelleCherie Carr Crowe .Just Call. 408-252-8900
Get Results Team...Just Call (408) 252-8900! . DRE #00901962 . Licensed to Sell since 1985 . Altas Realty - San Jose, CA
Family Helping Families Buy & Sell Homes 40+ Years

It's always anxiety-provoking for home sellers to undergo a home inspection.

Jan 05, 2014 03:14 AM
Jamie Dumaine-Russell
RE/MAX Alliance - Branford, CT

Janis. - Wonderful explanation & great information for sellers. This would be the perfect thing to include in a pre-listing packet or at a listing appointment.

Jan 05, 2014 04:24 AM
Charles Buell
Charles Buell Inspections Inc. - Seattle, WA
Seattle Home Inspector

Janis, this in my opinion should be a Real Estate 101 course

Jan 05, 2014 05:35 AM
Rekha Vyas
Keller Williams Realty of Brevard - Melbourne, FL

Hi Janis,

Good information for sellers as they get ready for a home inspection.

Jan 05, 2014 08:07 AM
Joan Whitebook
BHG The Masiello Group - Nashua, NH
Consumer Focused Real Estate Services

Sellers often want to know what to expect when the home inspection takes place.  This is a great explanation -- and also good tips on how to prepare the home for a home inspection.

Jan 05, 2014 11:35 AM
Rafi Footerman
Mid Jersey Inspections - Edison, NJ
Home Inspector, Mold Inspector, Radon and More!

This is a very good synopsis of what to expect.  I especially appreciate the note to provide access.  Nothing frustrates a client more than being unable to properly inspect one or more component.

Jan 05, 2014 11:44 AM
Michael Mahoney
Real Broker, LLC - Boston, MA
Boston Realtor

This is a very good list of what goes on at the property inspection. Seller's need to be told what to make ready and available. Nice blog post. 

Jan 05, 2014 07:18 PM
Joe Petrowsky
Mortgage Consultant, Right Trac Financial Group, Inc. NMLS # 2709 - Manchester, CT
Your Mortgage Consultant for Life

Good morning Janis. Great job with your post. I know one thing for sure, you do a great job educating your clients about the home inspection process.

Make it a great week!

Jan 05, 2014 07:25 PM
Joshua Frederick
Home Inspector for ASPEC Residential Services, LLC - Defiance, OH
Home Inspector in Defiance & all of Northwest Ohio

You got the bases covered.  Of course, the day that all those bases are actually covered by the seller for the Home Inspection, well, that's just wishful thinking ;)

Great post... loved it & thanks for sharing!

Jan 05, 2014 09:02 PM
Ginny Gorman
RI Real Estate Services ~ 401-529-7849~ RI Waterfront Real Estate - North Kingstown, RI
Homes for Sale in Southern RI and beyond

Great home inspection information for any buyer and seller...when i bought my home the sellers just didn't want to leave & left a neighbor present...it was so annoying.

Jan 05, 2014 09:31 PM
Richie Alan Naggar
people first...then business Ran Right Realty - Riverside, CA
agent & author

And while this is going on, lets keep communications crisp too

Jan 05, 2014 10:36 PM
Peter Pfann @ eXp Realty Pfanntastic Properties in Victoria, Since 1986.
eXp Realty, Victoria BC www.pfanntastic.com - Victoria, BC
Talk To or Text Peter 250-213-9490

Great resource and information list for home sellers to understand some of the stuff happening all around them during the inspection phase.

 

Jan 05, 2014 11:06 PM
Scott Seaton Jr. SLS Home Insp
SLS Home Inspections-Kankakee Will Iroquois Grundy Counties - Bourbonnais, IL
The Home Inspector With a Heart!

Great post, great info. Thanks, I am going to use at a presentation in the future. 

Jan 06, 2014 01:06 AM
Janis Borgueta
Newburgh, NY
Retired RE Salesperson

Yes Joshua, well put!!

Ginny - you know how it feels from all aspects of the transaction!!

Richie- super important for a smooth transaction

Thanks Peter. I like for my clients to know before we get to this point.

Scott - thanks. Glad to  know the info is so useful. I had not thought of giving it with my presentation packet. Makes perfect sense to include it though.

Jan 06, 2014 08:22 AM
Debbie Reynolds, C21 Platinum Properties
Platinum Properties- (931)771-9070 - Clarksville, TN
The Dedicated Clarksville TN Realtor-(931)320-6730

Janis, Great suggestions for a safe and fluid home inspection. It it compelling to mke it as easy as possible for the home inspector to get his job done.

Jan 06, 2014 12:24 PM
Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

Janis, great advice to Sellers preparing their home for a home inspection.    So many times there are cars in the garage, and little space to view and to get into the attic access.

Jan 06, 2014 11:31 PM
Janis Borgueta
Newburgh, NY
Retired RE Salesperson

Debbie - let the inspector get his job done. Making it more difficult does not change the outcome for the most part, but can make the process more painful for everyone involved.

Joan - I agree that the home should be easy to get into all the parts for the buyers to see what they are buying and the inspector to view everything.

Jan 07, 2014 09:27 AM
MichelleCherie Carr Crowe .Just Call. 408-252-8900
Get Results Team...Just Call (408) 252-8900! . DRE #00901962 . Licensed to Sell since 1985 . Altas Realty - San Jose, CA
Family Helping Families Buy & Sell Homes 40+ Years

Joan, I need to write one of these for Silicon Valley home sellers.

Jan 08, 2014 11:35 AM