Ahhh, the joys of Seller-hood... you list your home, get a good offer and BAM, you're under contract! The 15 days that follow can prove to be stressful because it's within this time frame that the buyer can choose to have a home inspection completed and/or simply change their mind and walk away from the deal.
What does the home inspection involve? Inspectors check everything from the major home systems, exterior, roof, electrical and plumbing. They also test major appliances that are affixed in the home, which doesn't include the refrigerator. There's a misconception that they do a 'tear down' of the home, but it's really more of a general overview. They don't do destructive testing or break down appliances like a service tech would.
Sometimes sellers get offended by all the little items listed on the report. No, they're not being picky or trying to sabotage a seller - it's their job (which involves extensive training) to make note of items that need repair, replacing, or even just 'things to watch due to age and normal wear and tear.' At the end of the day, they're making a general assessment of the property inside and out, designed to protect the buyer that's planning to make a huge investment by purchasing the property.
[caption id="attachment_7077" align="alignleft" width="155"] Plumbing is on the checklist[/caption]
What do they look for? Inspectors look for safety issues like electrical concerns (discontinued electrical panels that have proven to be fire hazards), rotten wood, leaky roofs, broken window seals, etc. They also test water temperature to make sure temps aren't turned up too high.
Mark McGuffee of
McGuffee Home Inspections recommends, "Advice for sellers would be to clean up your house from top to bottom, test all light bulbs and de-clutter. If you know something is broken, get it fixed before you put it on the market. I often see people walk through houses and they always push and pull drawers and doors and turn lights on and off to check if they're working." Why is this important to know? If someone finds several little things, they subconsciously wonder if the property has been taken care of and if numerous small items need work, then there may be bigger issues as well.
The most bizarre finding McGuffee has encountered was vampires in the attic. Ok, so they weren't vampires, but it WAS a BAT INFESTATION! The sellers had noticed an ammonia smell, but had no pets and couldn't figure out what it was or where it was coming from. He went into the attic and the odor was overwhelming from all the bats living in a tucked away corner - they got in through a torn gable vent screen. Bat guano is highly toxic and if you don't know what that is, look it up because I want to spare you of the icky details!
[caption id="attachment_7076" align="alignright" width="257"] Bat infestation in the attic[/caption]
Moral of the story, it may be worth the money to have a home inspection prior to putting your home on the market to head off any potential issues that would deter a buyer from backing out of the deal, not to mention addressing issues that may affect your own quality of life while occupying the home yourself!
If you would like additional information on home inspections and the process involved with the 15 day inspection period, feel free to contact Lee Ann Swartzentruber at 850.774.3186, Realtor for
Beachy Beach Real Estate in
Panama City Beach, FL.
beachtobays.com