Determining home value is one of the most important decisions you will make when trying to sell your home or even when buying a new home. It is important not to overprice your home, as you risk it remaining on the market for a long time and losing its freshness. If you price your home too low, you risk not getting the most home value you could. It is also important when buying a new home to know the real estate value of the home in order to protect yourself against paying too much. So how do you determine the home’s value? Working with a home inspector is probably the best solution to this problem.
Home inspectors do exactly as their title implies - they perform home inspections. They can provide a fresh perspective on the true property value of a home. They can objectively look at a home without seeing the sentimental value either the buyer or seller associates with the home.
They also have the tools to compare the real estate value of other similar homes nearby. Home inspectors have access to a lot of information on comparable homes in your area. You can work with the inspector to access this information, including the prices of similar homes sold recently, homes that are currently on the market and homes there were listed, but are no longer on the market.
Home inspectors also provide valuable information on any aspects of the home that are in need of repair. They are a valuable resource for both buyers and sellers. A seller may want to consider having a home inspection done on their home prior to even listing it, in case there are things in the home that need to be updated or fixed.
Each home inspection is different and can vary between states as to what areas of the home will be checked, and can even differ between cities and counties. There are associations that home inspectors can obtain membership to, and those associations usually have standards for their inspectors.
So, what could the average home inspection report contain?
- Structural elements. This is the construction from the foundation up, including floors, walls, ceilings and the roof.
- Exterior. Outside wall coverings (stucco, brick, siding, etc.), landscaping, elevation, drainage, fences, trim, doorways, windows, driveways, sidewalks and lights.
- Attic and roof elements. This part of the inspection will include framing, type of roof construction, ventilation and gutters. However, this is not to be confused with a roof certification. That should be obtained separately.
- Plumbing. Home inspectors will check and identify piping for both waste, drain, vent and potable water. They will comment on the condition of the pipes, as well as inspecting toilets, sinks, faucets and showers. Typically, a sewer inspection is not included and would need to be obtained from another professional.
- Household appliances. This can include any appliance from water heaters, furnaces, air conditioning and ducts, chimneys, fireplaces and even fire sprinklers, as well as kitchen appliances such as the oven, microwave, dishwasher, garbage disposal and smoke detectors.
- Electrical elements, such as the circuit breakers, wiring, exhaust fans, light fixtures and grounding.
- Garage. Home inspectors also carefully examine the slab, ceiling, walls, entry, garage door, lights, and roof.
Home inspectors help homeowners understand any potential problems that may come up after they purchase their new home, or help sellers understand any problems they may want to fix before selling their home. These inspections are extremely important when buying and selling a home and could save you a great deal of money in the long run.
Read My Profile...
{ 0 comments… add one now }