A Good Case For A Pre-Listing Home Inspection
I had a whirlwind of an experience this past week and it could have all been avoided with a Pre-Listing Home Inspection. So the story goes like this: My terrific buyers have had a difficult time finding a house in the spring market in their preferred school district and price range. Inventory has been low (a great blog topic for another day). One day a very nice, reasonably priced home came on the market. We were the first in and my clients "fell" for the house. It was in excellent condition, updated and showed beautifully. We wrote a contract, struck a deal and all was good...until the home inspection.
I shared the names of 3 home inspectors that our clients rave about. The buyers chose one and we were on our way. The inspector did a thorough job. Mind you, there are inspectors out there that believe it's their duty to write a laundry list of items no matter what they find. However, this inspector is a straight shooter. The inspection took close to 5 hours which should have been my first clue. The issues that came up weren't the worst I have ever seen but they were very surprising given the condition of the house (A+) Typically, the problems that were observed would be associated with an "as is" or a tear down. No such luck for my buyers. The repairs came to $25,000-$35,000, we are talking real money.
The sellers were VERY surprised that their house had so many problems. They are retirement age and downsizing to a condo nearby. Unfortunately, they have quite a bit of work to do before they can relist. Yes, I forgot to mention that my buyers walked away from the deal. They weren't really up for months of work, worries and to wonder what else will come up. They thought they bought a renovated, turnkey home???
If theses sellers had taken the time and money to do a Pre-Listing Home Inspection, they would be counting down the days to settlement not knee deep in repairs.
What to look for before putting your house on the market:
1. Check the systems of the house: heating, cooling, electrical, plumbing.
2. Windows - do they open close properly?
3. Appliances - if one is on life support, replace it.
4. Roof - know the age and condition.
5. Take a look at the landscaping/grading and the impact on your house.
These are just a few steps you can take to ensure the sale of your home goes smoothly. You don't want to get caught off guard, do you?
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