Dec. 3, 2006
An early inspection
If you're considering putting your home up for sale, you may want to consider having it inspected first.
In many cases, homes aren't inspected until a potential buyer makes an offer and hires an inspector to check the structure for problems, which could sink the sale. But in the current buyers' market, having an inspection done before listing the property may head off problems, according to the American Society of Home Inspectors.
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Details
On the Web
- www.ASHI.org
You can be guided through a virtual home inspection on the American Society of Home Inspectors' Web site. To get to the tour, click on the "FAQs on Home Inspection" option under "Quick Links," then select the "Virtual Home Inspection" option on the menu on the left side of the page.
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''Homeowners can uncover and address any issues before a prospective buyer walks through the door,'' ASHI's president, Joe Corsetto, said in a recent press release.
And from the real estate agent's perspective, it's not such a bad idea either.
''Speaking for myself, I think it's a great idea,'' said Douglas Azarian, broker/owner of Century 21 Dream Homes Realty in Falmouth and incoming president of the Massachusetts Association of Realtors. ''If I have a client with a home older than five years, I suggest it.''
The reason, he said, is that an inspection can uncover problems the homeowner may not have been aware. The homeowner can then arrange repairs.
Sometimes it can also save the seller some money, Azarian said. For instance, if there is a roof problem, a prospective buyer may insist on a replacement; but a less expensive repair may do the trick.
''It can save money, stress, anxiety and actually help move a transaction along,'' Azarian said.
During inspections, the inspector conducts ''a non-invasive examination of a home's systems, structures and components,'' according to ASHI. This includes the heating, plumbing and electrical systems. There should also be a visual inspection of the roof, walls and drainage.
In the United States, the average cost for an inspection is $320, but prices vary depending on a home's size, according to an ASHI spokesman.
Inspections can also help determine a sale price that reflects the property's ''true condition rather than having to negotiate on price when issues are discovered,'' according to the ASHI.
At one time, inspections weren't all that common. But in the past 10 to 15 years, they have become a standard for buyers, Azarian explained. As a result, more sellers are considering pre-listing inspections, he said. In his own business, Azarian said, about one-third of sellers invest in an early inspection.
- STACEY MYERS
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