Congratulations on the pending sale of your home! So now you are likely wondering, what’s next? Well, from the buyer’s end, one of the first things they will do is schedule a private home inspection with an inspector of their choosing.
When will the inspection take place?
The inspection must be completed within the time frame agreed to within the contract. This will usually be around one week’s time. Sometimes inspections are not easy for the buyer to schedule. This is due to them trying to matching up the inspector’s available time slots and their own work and personal commitments. On the seller’s end, it’s important and kind of you to be thoughtful of this and try to approve the time that they are able to coordinate with their inspector.
Who attends the inspection?
Typically the inspection will be attended by the buyer, their agent and their inspector(s). The seller will not be present.
What will be inspected?
For the general inspection, many aspects of your home will be visually inspected from the roof to the foundation. Including interior, exterior, appliances, plumbing, electrical, etc. This is to provide the buyer with a wealth of information in regards to the current condition of the property so they may make an informed purchase.
The buyer may also elect to have a number of different inspections by professional of different specialties. Don’t be alarmed if they chose to do so. For instance, with the age of many neighborhoods creeping up there in years, it’s becoming quite common for buyers to have a camera scope done of the plumbing drain lines running from the house to the sewer. Other inspections may include radon, HVAC, septic (if it’s not required of seller by county), foundation/structural, etc.
How should a seller prepare?
Although you will not be present for the inspection, there are a few things that you will want to do in preparation in order to facilitate the process:
Give the buyers privacy to complete the inspections while you are away from the home. The general home inspection takes about 3 hours to complete.
Clear personal items from attic access. Not only does this facilitate the inspector to get into the area. It also protects your personal items from damage or debris since insulation that will likely fall when the access panel is opened. That means, if the access is in the closet, clear some of your belonging out. If you have a pull down ladder, make sure furniture, cars, etc are out of the way of where it needs to come down.
Likewise, if you have a crawl space, make sure it is accessible as well.
And one additional place you will want to make sure is easily accessible; the electrical panel.
Of course you will want to tidy up and put away personal or valuable items.
If you have pets, you will want to find a place to take them for a few hours too.
What happens after the inspection?
After the inspection is complete, and within contract timelines, the buyer may voice some areas of concern that they would like addressed.
If and when that time comes we will review the severity and validity of the items. You may elect to repair, compensate or do nothing. We will weigh and discuss those items together.
