For both sellers and buyers, a home inspection may make or break a deal. That’s why, whether you’re buying or selling, the home inspection process may be nerve-wracking.
To make the procedure more accessible and efficient, consider your home inspector as a vital partner in the home buying or selling process. The key to success is knowledge! Here are some essential things to remember.
1. Give Inspectors Space to Do Their Job
Inspectors need plenty of elbow room to do their job. Some parts of the checklist may ask them to kneel or bend down to get a closer look at things. As a result, it is recommended not to hover, lest you end up distracting inspectors from discovering anything important.
Because let’s face it, it’s natural to get emotional and protective of your house, especially if you’ve lived there for years. It’s a good idea for sellers to leave during the home inspection and just rely on their representatives to be present during the inspection. Agents can provide a non-biased summary of the inspection report afterward.
2. Be Honest
Sellers are legally obligated to report any known concerns with their house, including all problems that arise before the inspection. Whatever it is, it’s best to be honest and forthright about it since the inspector will uncover it no matter how well you believe you’ve hidden the issue.
Expect the house inspector to go further into these spaces and red flags. Also, instead of trying to hide anything, it’s best to clean the house properly, treat unpleasant aromas by addressing the source, and, if necessary, give the area a natural citrus scent.
3. Put Away Your Pets During the Inspection
During the selling process, pets are also worried. That’s why experts advocate boarding your dogs with a friend or family for the duration of the house inspection. Inspections frequently need repeatedly opening external doors, providing far too many possibilities for dogs to escape.
4. Don’t Forget to Do Some General Cleaning
Attics, crawl spaces, basements, closets, and circuit breakers are all places where home inspectors require access. Inspectors must remove the cover to check the inside of a fuse box, which is sometimes hidden with shelves or another décor.
Move any clothing or other objects out of the way if you’re accessing your attic through a closet. The same may be said about crawl space hatches, allowing for simple access results in fewer delays and less time spent on the market. If an inspector cannot visit locations that you are required to report on, time that could otherwise be spent negotiating with buyers is consumed by scheduling another inspection appointment.
Conclusion
You want your offer to stand out in this fast-paced market with limited inventory and abundant buyers. While you may want to include some incentives to sweeten the deal, don’t forget about the house inspection. With the amount of money at stake, buyers expect a thorough inspection before moving in.
AEI Inspections brings over 30 years of structural home inspection experience to the table. Our company conducts thorough and on-the-dot inspections in Tulsa, Broken Arrow, and surrounding areas in North Eastern Oklahoma. Book an appointment today!
