When selling your home, one critical step often gets overlooked or underestimated: the home inspection.
A home inspection is more than a formality. It can make or break a sale and often leads to a second round of negotiations between buyer and seller. Home inspections serve as a comprehensive evaluation of your property’s condition and, without proper preparation, can potentially uncover hidden issues that could impact its value or even derail the sale altogether.
Whether you’re a first-time seller or a seasoned pro, these tips will equip you with the knowledge to navigate this phase to successfully sell your home and find your path forward.
What to Know About Home Inspections
- Inspections last 2-4 hours, like an extended showing.
- Sellers should leave so the buyers can interface freely with their inspector.
- The buyer’s agent sometimes comes at the end of the inspection to review any findings.
- Inspections will include the entire interior and exterior of the home.
- Optional radon testing may include leaving an air sampling device for two days.
- Inspections can also include the septic, well, and pool, if any.
Tips To Prepare For Inspection
- Remove or secure pets since the inspector is going in and out frequently.
- As with any showing, remove or secure guns, jewelry, valuables, and prescriptions.
- Walls must be accessible – move items away from walls, including garage & basement.
- The electrical panel and attic must be accessible. Inspectors bring their own ladders.
- Be sure utilities are on, and pilot lights are on too. Inspectors won’t light a pilot light.
- Replace any burned-out bulbs so interior and exterior light fixtures are working.
In our experience, a buyer’s ability to interact privately with their inspector (without an agent or the seller present) makes it a more positive and reassuring experience for them. This is especially important given that buyers can terminate a contract during due diligence and get their earnest money refunded.
20%-25% of buyers will terminate during the due diligence period, most often due to items found in the inspection, so getting through this step is one of our biggest hurdles. Your Strategic Guide will work with you to keep this phase of the process smooth, so we successfully get through the due diligence period.
After the Inspection
- The inspector only sends their report to the buyer and buyer’s agent.
- The buyer will propose the seller do repairs or give a financial credit instead of repairs.
- Any negotiations must be completed prior to the end of due diligence.
Knowing how to prepare for the inspection can help ensure a smooth and hassle-free closing.
Whether you’re leaving the area or staying local, we understand that selling is part of your path forward. We’ll use a combination of strategy & data to win for you, guiding and protecting you each step of the way with advice and resources.
