Caveat emptor (Buyer Beware)
Imagine buying a used car and the person selling the car does not let you sit in the driver seat, open the hood, or even start the car until you sign the papers to buy it. Only after signing the purchase agreement does the seller of that vehicle allow you to check the car out, turn it on, or see if it even works. And the clincher is that the seller did not even bring the car to a mechanic beforehand to see if there were any issues first – so everything is left up in the air until the papers are already signed and you check it out for yourself.
Sounds backward, right? Well, it is backward, but it is exactly how we go through the home buying process. Most sellers put their house on the market without having it checked by a professional first. Then, after buyers have only been allowed to view the home, they hire professionals, sign purchase agreements, and go through a lot of trouble and expense. Only after all of that is done do they hire a home inspector.
Any issue could come up during the home inspection that could put the transaction at risk. So why go through all of the work of hiring an agent, listing a property, marketing it, going under contract, and getting ready to move while not even knowing if the home “runs” or not?
That is why the buyer inspection is in the wrong place. The home inspection has been placed at the far end of a transaction for decades, but it should be placed at the front of it. According to real estate professionals, transactions can fall apart for many reasons, but an issue found during a home inspection is by far the most common. So what can put an end to this stressful cycle and stop deals from falling apart due to home inspection issues?
Putting The Home Inspection Back Where it Belongs
Putting the home inspection where it belongs is a critical step. A home inspection belongs at the BEGINNING of a real estate transaction, and not at the tail end when everything else is already done. That means turning a “buyer inspection” into a “seller inspection”.
A seller inspection benefits everyone involved and keeps the home inspection where it should be. When a seller gets their home inspected before it hits the market, then they are able to fix or disclose issues. This way, there are no surprises when a buyer comes and wants to purchase the home.
The home inspection report can also be presented to potential buyers. They can then see the issues that were found, understand the home they are looking at better, and see what the seller has done to address these issues to make the home ready to be sold.
So if you are thinking of listing your home, be sure to get a home inspection as the beginning of the process, and not the end.
Note: Keep in mind that a seller inspection is a “snapshot” in time of the house at the time of the inspection and is to be used as a guide only. It is not a substitute for a buyer’s inspection.
If you are looking for a thorough pre-listing inspection, contact us and we will be happy to help!
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