If you are thinking about selling your Shoreline, Washington home in today’s hot market, you may be wondering whether you need to get an inspection done on your home before it goes on the market.
Or you may not – after all, aren’t BUYERS supposed to be the ones getting the inspections before they buy a house? Well, yes and no… the inspection is usually for the protection of the buyer BUT, getting an inspection may help you sell your home faster and fore more money… here’s why.
Do You Need A Home Inspection?
Should you do a home inspection if you are selling your home, PRIOR to putting it on the market?… ☹ I know… there’s so much to think about when selling, it’s hard to decipher what the proper steps and time frame are. Today we’re going to talk about those steps so you can see what makes the most sense for you when it comes to getting your home ready to sell.
Should A Seller Get A Home Inspection?
Hi, I’m Emily with HomePro Associates at HomeSmart and I grew up in Lake Forest Park here north of Seattle and I’ve been involved in millions of dollars of real estate transactions – buying and selling investment properties as a principle, as well as being a real estate broker.
WHEN TO DO A HOME INSPECTION (For Sellers):
Now that you’ve spent time preparing your home for sale, why should you worry about a Home Inspection? I’ll tell you why!!! A good home inspection can ensure your buyer feels comfortable making a high-priced offer with fewer contingencies on your home, helping YOU sell your house FASTER and for MORE MONEY!
Almost every buyer will want to have an inspection done on your property before they buy it. Their agent will recommend it, and so will their lender. The question is WHEN will the inspection be done and WHO will PAY FOR IT!
Who Will Pay For Your Home Inspection When Selling Your Home?
Many home sellers choose to have an inspection done before they put their house up for sale, so they can fix any problems that come up and so they can provide a copy of the inspection to buyers, so the buyers can feel confident about the house and make a stronger offer when they submit their purchase offer.
WHAT WILL THE HOME INSPECTION COVER?
A home inspection is designed to evaluate the general condition of your home and all of its mechanical systems. This inspection can either make or break your deal, so spending a little time to make sure your house IS ACTUALLY in good condition before you sell, can save you time and money in the end. Also, knowing what repairs may come up and the cost to fix them will help give you a better understanding of what your true profit will look like when you sell.
What Is A Home Inspection?
I have an actual inspection here and I’d be happy to show you what one of these looks like. Usually the inspector will come out to the home for about three hours and look it over from roof to crawl space -and everywhere in between, and then provide you a detailed report with photos of everything. Let’s look at the major issues that often come up on a home inspection, together.
#1 Electrical Issues – Make sure that all outlets, GFCI’s, and switches work and replace any broken outlet covers. I know it seems silly, but yes – outlet covers do get written up as a “problem” on these reports. Also, replace burned out light bulbs to avoid a negative observation like “Light is inoperable” on the report that may suggest an electrical problem.
#2 Water and Plumbing – make sure you don’t have any leaky faucets or signs of leaking under your cabinets in the kitchen and bathrooms, OR on outside spigots.
#3 Heating & Cooling Systems – Clean or replace air filters on your heater pump, or air conditioner, if you have it. They should fit securely.
#4 Test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, and replace dead batteries. Yes – Washington state law requires that you have operable smoke and carbonmonoxide alarm systems in the house, so if this is not installed in your ceiling, you can get plug-in units to meet the requirements of the codes.
#5 Attend to broken or missing items that you might not have missed but inspectors will notice. Common examples are 1) missing doorknobs, locks and latches; 2) window panes, screens and locks; 3) gutters and drainspouts that divert water away from your foundation; 4) Roof tiles, flashing, and chimney caps.
#6 – Look for any rot, decay, moss or mildew on the exterior of your home. This includes Dry Rot. Dry rot often occurs around door frames on exterior doors and on the siding of homes. This is common when wood is older or if they have a lot of sun exposure, but it can be easily addressed. Also, be sure to remove stored items, debris and wood from underneath the home in the crawl space. These may be cited as “conducive conditions” for termites or ants. Also, be sure to trim any tree limbs within 10 ft of the house and all bushes should be at least 1 foot away from the sides of the home.
#7 Doors – Make sure that all of your doors open, close and lock easily. Electric garage doors must also have working safety features like pressure sensors, and blockage sensors. Lastly,
#8 – Recaulk around tubs, showers and countertops in your bathrooms and along the countertops in the kitchen. Checking these areas before your home inspection is an investment in selling your property.
Your real estate agent will thank you! For any clarification of these items, feel free to call us here at HomePro Associates with HomeSmart. If you’re thinking about selling your North Seattle or Shoreline home, we are your local real estate experts in 98155, 98133, and 98177! This is Emily Cressey and remember, we are here to serve.
