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The Importance of a Home Inspection When Selling Your Home

By
Real Estate Agent with Coldwell Banker - Santa Cruz BRE 01455690

Amidst the excitement of buying a new home, it's easy to get wrapped up and overlook getting a home inspection done. However, forgetting or simply overlooking the home inspection step could very well cost you more money down the road. 

1. Security 
The home inspection process, while optional, makes sure that the house you're looking at is safe and livable. Getting one done can give you a fairly detailed account of what you're buying into, even if the house is new. Otherwise, you could be stepping inside a kitchen infested with termites or a house that needs a complete rewiring job. 

2. Comparatively Inexpensive 
Say you're looking to buy a car and you have the choice to pay a licensed mechanic to look it over completely. If you pay for the mechanic, you will be out of an extra $200 to make sure the car is running as soundly as advertised. If you don't, then you take the chance of six months to a year later, having to do a major overhaul of the engine or transmission, which can be upwards of $4,000. Which would you choose? 

Putting it in those terms, it's a fairly easy answer. Paying for a home inspection is like paying for the licensed mechanic. It costs about $200-400 and you'll find out if your dream home needs some TLC or a complete overhaul of something done. 

3. It's a Bargaining Tool 
Provided the electrical system doesn't need a complete rewiring or the sewer tank needs to be dug up and fixed, a home inspection can be an extremely useful bargaining tool. 

If what is being offered is lower than the appraisal cost, then a home inspection report can be used to negotiate a lower price. It can also be used to negotiate any seller's repairs that can be done. Finally, if the report shows something that is a deal-breaker, the home inspection can be used as an out to break the contract. 

To Wrap it Up 
While getting a home inspection is optional in many cases, it's still a step that shouldn't be overlooked. Not only does that report provide security in what you're stepping into, but it can be used as a bargaining tool to negotiate a lower price or walk away entirely.

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