Everything You Need To Know About A Home Inspection As A Seller

You may have dolled up a home to perfection and hired the best real estate agents, but nothing can prepare you for the stress of a prospective buyer ordering a home inspection. During this process, the property you’re selling will be put under a microscope and there’s always a probability that you’ll be made aware of previously unknown issues.

Fortunately, you can ease some of the tension by taking certain steps to prepare your home for the event and minimize any unwanted surprises.

Continue reading to learn more about what’s included, how long does a home inspection report take, and what to do to make it more favorable.

What Are Home Inspections?

Before delving into the minute details such as how long does a home inspection report take, it’s important to get through the basics. A home inspection is an impartial, third-party examination of different aspects of a residential property. It covers areas such as the roof and checks the presence of water damage or structural defects, among other things.

These checkups are very detailed, which is why it will take close to three hours to conduct one on an average size home. 

Can You Fail A Home Inspection?

Although many discuss home inspections as pass or fail tests, the reality is that you can’t fail an inspection. The entire process is nuanced and it's only goal is to confirm the condition of the home and potentially identify any drawbacks that the buyer should be aware of before handing over their cash. 

Now, any significant (or minor) issues will open the door for renegotiations. You can adjust the price to account for the repairs or you may strike a deal with the buyer where you’ll keep the original asking price and you’ll manage the repairs. If not, the buyer is more than likely to walk away. 

At Which Point Of The Sale Does The Inspection Happen?

It depends on the type of inspection. A seller can schedule a pre-listing inspection before listing their home. That way, they can resolve any trouble beforehand, thus saving a valuable amount of time in the closing process. 

On the flip side, a buyer’s inspection is usually scheduled after you accept an offer and before the sale is closed. 

How Long Does A Home Inspection Report Take?

Multiple factors will play a role in the duration of the examination and how long it will take for the inspector to produce a report. For instance, a condo inspection will take considerably less time than an assessment of a luxury home with a pool. 

While the answer to how long does a home inspection report take depends on the factors discussed above, there is a rough industry average. The report will normally take between three and four days to complete. 

It also depends on the inspector. Here at Guardian Angel Inspections, we can provide a report within 24 hours if your sale is time-critical. If you need a fast report, you can rely on us to deliver it.

What Do Home Inspections Cover?

Generally speaking, the main focus of home inspectors is health and safety concerns followed by major faults. Some of the things we look out for are:

• Water damage
• Damaged electrical system
• Condition of the roof
• Structural/foundational weaknesses
• Plumbing system
• Pest infestations
• Condition of the HVAC system
• Garage doors
• Stairway, step, and railing safety
• Fireplace 

Certain matters like mold or pest problems will typically require consultation with a dedicated expert. Our inspectors are trained and certified to check for pest infestations or mold, so a major hurdle in the process is eliminated by working with Guardian Angel Inspectors. 

However, it’s worth mentioning that despite the detailed nature of home inspections, they won’t check for cosmetic features in a home. For instance, if the wallpaper is peeling, an inspector will look past the aesthetic aspect and strictly look if the problem is an indicator of excessive moisture. 

The same applies to features such as decor, finish, security system, or shutters. The only outbuildings included in a home inspection are garages and carports. 

How To Prepare A Home For An Inspection

Now that you’re aware of what the inspection will cover and how long does a home inspection report take, you need to learn how to prepare to avoid any unnecessary blemishes in the final report. 

You should do the following:

• Gather receipts of all maintenance services you performed on the home or any of its components. This may include servicing the HVAC system, roof, etc.
• Declutter spaces like the basement, attic, crawl space, garages, and so on. Inspectors need to access these areas and if they’re unable to do so, they’ll mark the space as uninspectable.
• Provide access to electrical panels, HVAC system, water heaters, and other notable elements.
• Replace all lightbulbs to make your home easier to inspect.
• Check for any clogs by running water with all water fixtures. You may be able to resolve these with chemicals such as Drano. 
• Replace the air conditioner filters. Poor air quality could lead to many difficulties with the HVAC system which the inspector will note down in the report.
• Repair or replace any broken screens or windows.
• Cap unused chimney flues and gas lines to prevent clogs from forming.
• Replace any missing shingles to lower the chance of leaks.
• Turn on utilities if the home was vacant for a while.

How Our Pre-listing Inspection Can Help You

As you can tell, the things you can do without professional assistance are limited. This is why it’s best to conduct an inspection well before listing a home. For starters, a pre-listing inspection will expedite the sales process. More importantly, this allows you to catch flaws early and resolve them before they create pesky delays during the sale. 

Knowing whether there are serious defects before listing gives you more confidence in your asset, especially if you haven’t lived in the house for a while or you inherited it and have no idea about its condition.

Call (561) 512-7854 to schedule an inspection now and sell your property with an extra sense of pride.