Home inspections are included in real estate contracts as a contingency towards the final few steps of selling a home, and are typically requested by the homebuyer. However, as a home seller, it’s beneficial to get a home inspection even before listing your home to ensure the process runs smoothly.
To diagnose problems with your home
Before listing your home, it’s good to be mindful of factors homebuyers may find to be negative about your home. For example, are the shudders on your home old? Are the hinges on doors rusted and squeaky?
A home inspector can help you identify areas in need of repair and improvement, so you can make the necessary adjustments before potential homebuyers get the chance to view your property.
What do inspectors search for?
When inspecting your property, a licensed professional examines your house for a multitude of items. These include, but are not limited to:
- Exterior components, such as cracks or broken seals on surfaces, structural integrity, garage door function, etc.
- The roof is checked for things such as broken shingles or nearby tree branches that could pose risk of damage to your home or nearby power lines during a storm.
- The HVAC system will be checked to make sure it’s running properly, and vents are also checked to make sure they are clean and clear of debris.
- Interior components of your home will be checked for safety, which may include issues such as water damages and pests.
Will the seller still order an inspection if one was done prior?
An inspection contingency is built into most real estate purchase contracts to protect the interests of the buyer and seller.
In most cases, a buyer may want to get their own inspection performed to make certain the home is fit for purchase.
Getting an inspection ahead of time can help you troubleshoot as a home seller and boost your preparation to sell your property.
About the Author
Kyung Kim
Hi, I'm Kyung Kim. I immigrated from South Korea to the United States in 1968 when I was 7 years old. I have seen my mom struggle with the English language and work hard to raise her four kids by herself. Still to this day, I don't know how she pulled it off, but she bought her first home in 1979 for $70,000 and because of that decision, she was able to live without worrying about her financial future. I want that for everyone, to feel the pride of home ownership and to build their financial wealth using real estate as part of their financial portfolio. I feel so blessed to play a small role in helping others reach this goal.
I live in Beaverton with my husband, Richard. My mom, who lived with us for several years, passed away in our home in February 2022. Her first home purchase in 1979 made it possible for her to live to the very end, without worrying about her finances. As of August 2022 with a little downpayment assistance, our four children own their own homes. Being in real estate, I quickly realized that if they didn't buy now, they may be priced out of the market in the future. Whether that would have been the case, we will never know, but what we do know is that they are all realizing some good, healthy appreciation in their home values.
As passionate as I am about people owning their homes, I'm also passionate about giving back to our community. I support Compassion First, a non-profit organization that provides aftercare for sex trafficked girls in Indonesia. My husband and I also feel called to financially support social injustice organizations.
I'd love to assist you. Whether you're in the research phase at the beginning of your real estate search or you know exactly what you're looking for, you'll benefit from having a real estate professional by your side. I'd be honored to put my real estate experience to work for you.
