You are selling a house in Knoxville, and now it is time for the buyer to send out an inspector to complete a home inspection. Other than the appraisal, this is the one contingency that results in home sales falling through the most and is a HUGE reason we buy houses in Knoxville. These can uncover major underlying issues. This can cause some issues that buyers might potentially look over become more prominent and pressing. Remember! Don’t try to hide any issues with the home. Buyers hire the home inspector, so keep in mind they are working for the buyer and not you!
You do have the option of a pre-inspection before listing and selling the property. There are pros and cons of having a pre-inspection. On one hand, it can allow for knowledge of all issues and possible fixer-upper projects before the sale of the house. On the other hand, it could open Pandora’s box of issue after issue, and you are required to disclose any information from the pre-inspection.
Home Inspections As The Seller
What do you need to expect when it comes to a home inspection?
Home inspections take around 2-4 hours depending on the size of the house. It is always good to declutter and prepare your property for an inspection beforehand, and you should make sure all utilities are on, and in working order. Also, if you have pets, you might consider removing them from the property during the inspection. This allows for a smoother process.
What does a home inspection consist of?
A home inspection consists of both exterior and interior inspections. Make yourself familiar with what home inspectors are going to be looking at, so you can prepare in the best way possible. There are categories that are typically included in a home inspection. Based on the American Society of Home Inspectors or ASHI, home inspectors look at the following:
- Heating system
- Central air conditioning system (temperature permitting)
- Interior plumbing and electrical systems
- Roof
- Attic, including visible insulation
- Walls
- Ceilings
- Floors
- Windows and doors
- Foundation
- Basement
- Structural components
Some of the things that home inspectors focus the most on is water damage, structural issues, roof damage, electrical and plumbing issues, and HVAC age and function capability. Remember home inspectors are not experts in all of these fields that are represented in a house. They are generalists, so they will not be able to always tell you what exactly is wrong if they find issues. When an inspector reports a finding in their report, you should hire a qualified professional to repair it. For example, an electrical issue should be repaired by an electrician.
What to do after the inspection?
So, what if you discover that the house needs expensive and extensive repairs? Sellers may be asked to do some repairs, reduce the purchasing price, or even give cash credit at closing to help fix the problems. This is somewhat market driven as well. During a seller’s market, you will have more leverage to not offer repairs or credits, especially if the home is in a desirable neighborhood or you have a desirable property type. But even in a seller’s market, some repairs cannot be avoided. It will be difficult to find a buyer to pay retail prices for a house that needs larger repairs such as HVAC and roofs.
Legality of home inspections
Tennessee does not require home inspections by law for getting mortgages nor selling a home. Home inspections are sometimes confused with home appraisals, which are usually required by law. Even though they are not required by law, home inspections are good ideas to do, so buyers can have a better idea about the condition of the home. Home inspections are usually initiated by the buyer not the seller, so it is the buyer who is hiring the home inspector. Also, legally you do not have to fix anything after a home inspection; the problems just need to be disclosed. This means that you need to do a property disclosure even if you are wanting to sell the home “as-is.”
We Buy Houses Regardless Of The Condition!
Let’s face it, selling a home the traditional way is identical to an obstacle course. The inspection is one of those humongous obstacles. You can eliminate this stressful event by selling your house as-is to us! Since we buy houses in cash, we eliminate the need for banks, appraisers, and booked up inspectors (we do inspections ourselves)! This allows us to work on your time table. We are also local, meaning you will work directly with us face-to-face instead of over the phone. As a reputable homebuyer in Knoxville, we really do provide the “no-brainer” way for homeowners to sell their houses completely stress free!
Suggested Pages We Encourage You To Visit!
