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questions to ask the home inspector for the most information

The Best Questions To Ask The Home Inspector After The Inspection

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A standard part of the process for buying a home is for the Buyer to hire a home inspector to get a property inspection. The home inspection report is often the key report that describes the current overall condition and quality of the property of the home is being purchased. The home inspector or licensed contractor will inspect and check every major component and/or feature. More often than not a home inspector will discover issues, imperfections or problems that the homebuyer would want to know about. It’s also a good idea to even inspect brand new construction since items will be addressed by the builder or the new construction warranty.

Buyers should attend the inspection, along with their agent, to go over Seller provided disclosures, and reports. The Buyer’s can ask the home inspector to look at specific disclosure items of interest that the Buyer want to understand if its a major, minor or perhaps not an issue. At the end of the home inspection, the Buyers should be present to ask the inspector for a quick review of the issues found, and to be able to ask any questions that come to mind.

Here are some basic questions that can help you get everything you want and need out of this key inspection report.

What to Ask at Your Inspection

  1. Are there any major issues with the property? It’s not uncommon for inspectors to uncover a lot of small problems…but remember, not all of them have to be fixed right away! You may have a few tiny, cosmetic issues that can easily be placed on the back burner for a good long while. It doesn’t hurt to ask your inspector what the truly pressing items are. These items need to more often than not be addressed by the seller and to your satisfaction fixed before you complete the purchase..
  2. Are there any safety hazards?  If your inspector finds any safety issues they should be address and repaired by the Seller. These issues put you and the occupants of the house at risk. Some safety issues are fire hazards, electrical hazards, water leaks, or even slip and fall hazards.
  3. Can you recommend an expert to help with this problem? Sometimes, your inspector may discover a major, systemic issue with the house…for example, a heating or cooling issue, a plumbing problem, or an electrical failure. The inspector might find an issue that you have no idea of how to address. Don’t hesitate to ask for a referral or recommendation to look at the issue further.
  4. Did the inspector find issues due to deferred maintenance? Deferred maintenance items are a big indicator of whether the Seller took care of the home while owning it. Your inspector may see some little signs of trouble that could point toward bigger problems down the road. Ask the inspector what most likely caused the issue. Just because a house “looks” good doesn’t mean the house has been well cared for.
  5. How much will these repairs cost? Might be an obvious question but you should be careful asking this question. You may see some repairs that obviously need to be made but that doesn’t mean the inspector can address the repair and the actual cost.

After the Home Inspection

The home inspector and their report is a valuable resource to find out and learn the condition and quality of the property you are buying. That being said it’s important to take your time reviewing the information from the home inspection. You should work closely with your agent to gather more information about any issues found. What you may think is a major issue can be addressed through communication with the Seller/Seller’s Agent. The Seller may be able to clear up the issue or have it addressed. Most likely you will want further inspection by a licensed contractor to look at any major items discovered and to give you a real cost to address. Your agent should be able to request any items of concerned found by the home inspector to be addressed by the seller. A good agent will help you manage the home inspection issues and concerns quickly and to your satisfaction. They should also be able to help you get the Seller to address any issues to your satisfaction as well.

Getting you r home ready to sel

How to Get Your House Ready to Sell

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Wondering how to get your house ready to sell? If you’re looking to sell your home during primetime which is during the first six months of the year in South Placer (we’ve got great weather!). Learn more about getting your home ready to sell.

How to get your house ready to sell

Unfortunately, getting a house ready to sell is not as easy as posting an add on Facebook. If you want your home sweet home to stand out from the competition, you need to make it shine. So, here’s how to whip your place into shape by discovering any problems and upgrading the eyesores. Because like it or not, your home has sustained some wear and tear over the years. Here’s how to assess the work you should do and find out which if any updates will pay off to help you sell.

1. Look at the big ticket items in your home, are they old?

No matter how great your home looks at first glance, any savvy buyer will point to various parts and pop the question: How old? And since guesstimates won’t cut it, you will need to gather some paperwork to get your house ready to sell. If you’ve purchased your home in the past few years, check your home records or seller’s disclosure for the age or last repair of big items (namely your roof, HVAC system, water heater, and gutters), or dig up copies of your own maintenance records or receipts.

Pro Tip: How long items last depends on a lot of factors such as the model and how well it’s been maintained, but you can get a general idea of average lifespan. For example:

  • Wood shingle and shake roof: 15 to 30 years
  • Central air-conditioning unit: 15 years
  • Electric water heater: 14 years
  • Gutters: 30 years

2. Do your own walk-through

Be a “buyer” and go through your home, room by room. Look for signs of damage that might drag down its value.  Need inspiration? Think about these types of issues looking at your home:

  • Wood rot around outside door frames, window ledges, and garage doors. Condensation and rain can cause these areas to weaken and rot.
  • Water stains on the ceiling or near doors and windows. This can indicate a leaky roof or rain seeping in from outside.
  • Leaks under sinks or around toilets.
  • Bulges under carpet or discoloration on hardwood floors, which can indicate flooding problems or an uneven foundation.

Next, test what’s called the “liveability” in every room. For example: Cracks visible in the walls and floor, doors that don’t shut right, broken handles on cabinets, basically anything that doesn’t work perfectly should be repaired. And don’t forget to inspect the outside.

3. Bring in the pros to streamline the fixing

Once you’ve done your own walk-through, you may want to have a pro take a second look before you decide you’re ready to sell. These people can spot flaws you overlooked, because either you’re used to them or you didn’t realize they could cause trouble. My recommendation is to get a pre sale inspection for your home. There are companies specializing in a comprehensive home inspection. While your at it get the roof and order a wood pest inspection as well.

Pro Tip: While the cost varies, people pay $300+ for a home inspection. Go to the American Society of Home Inspectors to find an inspector in your area. It may cost a bit, but it will buy you the peace of mind of knowing you’re not in for any surprises down the road. In fact, having a home inspection report handy to show buyers can inspire confidence that they (and you by association) aren’t in for any nasty surprises as you move toward a deal.

4. Decide what needs renovating or not

Once you know what in your house could stand for repairs, it’s time to decide what to fix. Don’t worry, not everything needs to be done before your home is ready to sell. And while you’re probably not thrilled at the idea of renovating a property you’re going to sell, certain fixes will give you an edge over the competition, which means more/better offers. Remember, to think like a buyer when selling your home. Fix what matters and you’ll get better results selling.

But don’t just obsess over the obvious—e.g., your kitchen could stand for new cabinets. After all, many buyers will want to tweak cosmetic details to their own tastes, so you could be throwing money down the drain. Instead, focus on fix-its that are more relevant to living in the home, buyers like to know are in good shape.

Pro Tip: If you are going to make the home shine. A recent study by the National Association of Realtors® found that upgrading hardwood floors reaps an estimated 100% return on investment, essentially paying for itself. Upgrading your insulation can net you a 95% ROI, a new roof a whopping 105%! Because what buyers don’t like to know they’ve got a solid roof over their heads?