We’ve all heard that home is where the heart is, and where our story begins. Home means pretty things to the makers of inspirational signs, bumper stickers, and fuzzy blankets. But hire a licensed home inspector to survey the property before listing it for sale and you’ll realize there’s plenty going on beneath the surface of your picture-perfect home sweet home. Brian Ross and the team at Vancouver’s Details Home Inspections offer pre-listing inspections to keep costly surprises at bay and bring in those top dollar offers.
Bankrate explains that during a pre-listing inspection “a professional home inspector examines your property to identify any potential problems or repairs that need to be made. Think of it as an opportunity to know what the buyer might request before an offer is made or a purchase agreement is signed.”
At Details Home Inspection, interior examinations include heating, plumbing, electrical, visible piping, faucets and fixtures, attic/crawl/basement areas, kitchen, walls, floors, ceilings, and windows. Outside they’ll look over your roof, chimney, flashing, valleys, siding, trim, windows and storm windows, driveways, patios, decks, porches, and any exterior air conditioning units or heat pumps.
While a pre-listing inspection isn’t always required, it’s always a good idea. Potential buyers will use even the smallest issues to drive down price or wrangle adjustments to closing costs and fees. Inspecting things beforehand streamlines the process and in today’s red-hot market, that can be the difference between getting top dollar and scrambling to make repairs before the contract expires.
Pre-listing inspections can also expedite closing schedules. Having that inspection in hand lets the buyer know what to expect and shows that the seller has nothing to hide when it comes to their listing. In real estate, time is always money.
“Let’s say your pre-listing inspection turns up some issues with the home’s plumbing,” say Bankrate’s industry experts. “If a buyer finds those same issues and asks for a $3,000 credit or concession, you’d ultimately be making less on the sale. With a pre-listing inspection, you can fix it yourself and potentially build those repair costs into your list price.”
With Details Home Inspections, pricing is based on square footage and the age of the home. You can also choose to add on or arrange for stand-alone services like radon testing, sewer scoping, water quality testing, and energy score rating. They provide quality home inspections across Southwest Washington, the greater Portland Oregon area, and surrounding cities.
In some ways real estate has its own language. When buying or selling, it may seem like home inspection and home appraisal are interchangeable terms. But, says Bankrate, “It’s important to note that neither type of inspection [pre-listing versus standard home inspection] is a substitute for an appraisal. An appraisal is an assessment of the fair market value of your home, which includes external factors such as the neighborhood and local real estate market. In most cases, a mortgage lender will require one in order for the buyer to obtain a mortgage.”
When you’re ready to take the next step, contact Brian Ross and his team or schedule an appointment online for current availability and pricing. They’re happy to answer questions, explain common terminology, or provide a sample report to look over in advance. Still unsure? Read through the many positive reviews and recommendations from families like yours then book your home inspection today.
You’ve decided to sell, that’s the hardest part. Now let Details Home Inspections do the dirty work so you can move on to your next—or forever—home. Big or small, vintage or new construction, condo or manufactured home, they’ll tackle it all.
