What You May Not Know About Home Inspections

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Every home buyer knows that getting an inspection is a critical part of buying a house. But did you know that it's a pretty good idea if you're selling a home too? Here are 5 reasons why you should seriously consider getting your home inspected before putting it on the market:

1.  To prevent the sale from falling through: Sometimes, once an offer has been made, the buyer's home inspection finds a problem. This will often make them nervous, causing them to back out of the deal altogether. This is unsettling for a seller, as you don't want to lose a sale after getting an offer.


2. Avoid the scenario of "let's make another deal": If you fix issues found during the inspection process, you can avoid a situation where the buyer wants to renegotiate the terms of the deal. This will happen after the price of the sale and the terms of the transaction are settled. The buyer will want to start the process again because of the newly found problems with the property, which only prolongs the process and puts you at a significant disadvantage.


3. Disclose the inspection along with the seller disclosure: You can inform the buyer, before the terms are set, that there are issues with the house that you are not going to address. The potential buyer's offer should reflect this disclosure. This is a good way to get the price and the terms set from the beginning, and avoid the above mentioned "let's make a deal" scenario at a later stage in the process.


4. Protect against future litigation: It's a law that you disclose any defect with the property that you're aware of. A buyer can always claim that you're not being forthcoming in what you're disclosing. However, if you complete the seller disclosure and give them a copy of the inspection report, you can address their concerns without a problem.


5. Reduce the level of stress and anxiety associated with the selling process: Selling your home doesn't have to be a worrisome task. When you get your home inspected before putting it on the market, you make it easier to manage - you fix issues you find at your convenience, by your schedule, at your own pace. You won't have to worry about a buyer pressuring you to get things fixed a certain way, by a certain time and, sometimes, for a certain dollar amount.

Don't make the home selling process any more difficult that it needs to be - get a home inspection before you put your home on the market. If you have any questions about buying or selling real estate in Bucks County, give us a call or send us an email. We want to make your real estate experience a smooth one.