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Like doctors with specialties, home
inspectors can see things that their customers typically
cannot.
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Most of the issues we encounter during a
typical inspection are a result of a homeowner’s DIY efforts,
or lack thereof. Some do-it-yourself homeowners are unaware
that planting vegetation too close to the exterior of the home
is not good for the siding or if mulch is piled up against the
foundation wall, it can lead to problems. A homeowner replaces
outdated or broken outlets and the wires are reversed. Roof
seepage and flooding are likely to occur if the gutters were
not cleared on a regular basis or a downspout is missing.
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Today,
buyers have financing organized well in advance; however,
real estate transactions are still vulnerable. Many sellers
are unprepared. Small details around the home are in need of
repair. Some deals fall apart because of it.
What’s the solution? Every home should be pre-approved,
making sure the home is in good shape before a buyer submits
an offer.
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Over the last decade or so, the demand for
home inspections has risen to the point where nearly every home
buyer hires a professional home inspector. More recently,
sellers are hiring us, on their agent’s recommendation, to have
the property pre-inspected either before or at the time it goes
on the market. After all, a surprise that stalls or
derails a real estate transaction hurts all parties involved.
And while no home is perfect, pre-owned homes are likely to
have more flaws than brand new construction. This is where a
professional home inspection makes the difference. Sellers can
decrease (if not eliminate) the element of surprise.
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Of all the many components and systems we
inspect as a matter of course, we routinely see homes with
improper drainage, sometimes due to landscaping or a grading
problem. Electrical outlets and switches, probably installed by
the homeowner, are wired incorrectly. We also see a number of
electrical panels in need of additional circuit breakers. Other
issues include mechanical problems with heating and air
conditioning systems, and sometimes roof leakage and/or damage.
Although the majority of homes are free of major defects, having
a long list of small, often inexpensive, repairs can deter a
buyer from moving forward with the purchase. In situations where
the buyer is capable of making all of the small repairs on his or
her own, who wants to spend the time and money to rectify the
previous owner’s neglect or incompetence?
The real estate industry is forever changing and more
responsibility is shifting to the sellers to present a marketable
home in a competitive market. Our job is to inspect and report.
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