Seller Inspections
A Seller Inspection can save buyers and sellers a lot of time, money and headaches, but it only works when all involved parties recognize and trust the inspector. HouseMaster® is the premier North American home inspection company, with more than 370 independently owned and operated franchises throughout the U.S. and Canada. Our experience is unmatched in the home inspection industry.
The Value of a Seller Inspection
More and more home sellers are opting to have their house inspected before a buyer comes along. Pre-Inspections (seller inspections) are gaining great momentum in both soft and hot real estate markets. While professional home inspections are not a new concept, the idea to have an inspection done at listing is beginning to gain acceptance. After all, why wait until there is a real estate contract on the line to find out if there are any significant defects in the home? Seller disclosure requirements are also causing sellers to take proactive measures to protect themselves during the sales process. Today's seller wants to close their deal knowing they made a full disclosure of the condition of the home sold.
The Value of a HouseMaster® Pre-Inspection
Sellers who arrange for a HouseMaster Pre-Inspection enjoy several marketing, legal, and financial advantages.
Marketing
Once your HouseMaster Prelisting Inspection is complete, a prominent HouseMaster Pre-Inspected Logo can be posted on your on-line listing and a lawn sign can be placed on your lawn. Prospective buyers and real estate agents will understand a home that has had a prelisting inspection's unique benefit over other similar homes.
At your request, tent cards can be placed throughout the home so that buyers and agents touring the home are reminded that a recent professional HouseMaster prelisting inspection report is available for review. A HouseMaster Pre-Inspection can give your home the edge! And buyers definitely appreciate knowing the condition of the major elements of the home upfront.
Legal
The legal implications of seller disclosure requirements often put sellers in a difficult position. If a condition is found after a home has sold and was not disclosed, sellers may be asked to "prove" they were unaware of the problem - not an easy task.
Local laws in many areas now have formal requirements that sellers disclose the condition of the home being sold. Court rulings regarding disclosure are another but less predictable source of pressure on the seller. Your local HouseMaster professional has the expertise to assist in documenting a home's "true" condition. Having your home pre-inspected by a HouseMaster inspector provides you with the peace of mind that you have done all you could to disclose your home's condition. It also helps avoid post sale litigation once you've settled into your new destination.
Financial
One of the most significant benefits of having your home inspected by your local HouseMaster office is the ability to enjoy an upper hand in negotiations.
Here's why: Without a pre-inspection, your home will be listed at what you consider to be a fair price. Interested buyers will then put in offers which are generally lower than the listing price. Most sellers expect to accept a price reasonably less than the listing price.
This is where a problem can arise. After the buyer has an accepted offer on the home, the buyer will hire a home inspector. Our research has shown that over 40% of all homes have at least one significant defect. To find out the likelihood of defects which will be found in your home, use our HouseMaster® Home Defect Survey. When that defect is detected, most buyers will want the seller to fix defects found or try re-negotiate the price of the home. Experience shows that buyers generally try and negotiate two times the actual cost of repairs needed.
By having a professional home inspection report available to the buyer, sellers now have several valuable options:
- Make the necessary repairs. Studies show that homes in good condition sell faster and for a higher percentage of their original listing price because needed repairs have already been addressed.
- Price the house taking into account the home's condition. A higher price if the home has been well maintained and has newer/upgraded systems - or a price that has been adjusted down to reflect the less than perfect condition.
Buyers Benefit Too!
Buyers of a HouseMaster Pre-Inspected home can arrange to have HouseMaster come back to the property at a reduced rate to review and update the original inspection report and answer all the buyer's questions.
During this walk thru inspection, the inspector can educate the buyer on the various types of systems in the home, show them how they are operated, answer any questions they may have, and provide valuable maintenance suggestions. And the best part is that buyers who opt for this walk thru will get the HouseMaster Limited Repair Reimbursement Guarantee so they are assured that HouseMaster is committed to their satisfaction.
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