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How to Pass A Home Inspection for Sellers and Real Estate Agents

 

All home inspectors are trained to find defects and the good ones find more than the newer, less experienced ones.  So expect a home inspector to find things wrong with every house if they are doing their job for their client.  I tell people that there are no perfect houses.  Houses built by imperfect people in an imperfect world, add weather, age and normal decay; can't possibly be perfect. 

 

So what can a Seller or Real Estate agent do to improve their odds of "Passing" the home inspection?   Following is my list of things that can help expedite your home selling process with regard to passing the biggest hurdle: the home inspection.

 

1. De-clutter and clean your home as much as possible.  Make sure all Attic and Crawlspace cavities are "readily accessible". 

2. Fix the things you have put off fixing.  The less issues found by the inspector, the better your home looks to a prospective buyer.

3. Make sure all appliances and fireplaces operate prior to the inspection.  If pilot lights are off, light them ahead of time. 

4. Possibly have a Pre-list Home Inspection.  This way you (the Seller) have a list to either fix, or, disclose depending upon your Realtor's advice. 

5.  Deal with Structure, Water, Electrical and Mold Issues that you know about.  These issues tend to scare away buyers because there is a lot of uncertainty.  Either fix them, or, get quotes from reliable contractors in order to take the uncertainty and fear out of the equation for the buyer. 

6. Insist on the buyer using a Home Inspector who uses a Cost Estimator with his Report.  Assuming you have delt with the Structure, Water and Mold issues, a cost estimate on the balance of the findings should give everyone a more comprehensive idea of what to expect next. 

 

Sometimes, the estimate is used to provide an Escrow fund for funding repairs after closing by the buyer.  We do not recommend for a Seller to perform repairs after a home inspection.  Warranties on the work, implied by State law, do not necessarily transfer to the new owner if the contractor worked for the seller.  Also, everyone's tastes and preferences are different so the chances are great that the buyer will not be happy with the seller's color choice, for example.  The Cost Estimate minimizes the invasiveness of seeming endless inspection by third parties and takes a lot of stress out of the process for everyone.

Remember: There are no perfect houses, so, the more prepared you as a Seller and/or Real Estate Agent are, the smoother the process!


To find out more about us please go to https://accuspecinspections.com/meet-the-team

To Book a Home Inspection in East Tennessee including Knoxville, Sevierville, Dandridge, Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg, Newport, or Maryville, please go to accuspecinspections.com 

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