Yes! You Need An Inspection!

Regardless of whether you are the Buyer or the Seller, if you are my client, I encourage you to have the house inspected.

A home inspection often means the difference between a purchase or no purchase. If you are a home buyer, I will insist that you have the home of your dreams inspected. First of all you need to learn all you can about the house you are about to purchase. With so many homes for sale, inspections have become a huge tool and bargaining chip for further negotiations over price or for the buyer to walk-away from the deal if the house turns out to be a lemon. After a satisfactory inspection, and assuming the buyer still wants to consummate the deal, the inspection also provides a good education for the buyer to learn about the house he is about to purchase. Where the shut-off valves are, how to run the sprinkler system and much more.

Sometimes there are issues with the property. The Buyer's goal is to get the Seller to pay for the repairs OR cut the price of the property to reflect the cost of repairs the buyer will need to do once he gains possession. Often the result of this negotiation depends on the Seller's ability to pay for repairs and the comfort zone of the buyer.

Likewise, if I am representing a Seller, I often recommend that before we even put the property on the market, we have the house inspected. If an inspector finds anything that could be a potential problem down the road, we can be pro-active and hopefully repair the problem windows or wood rot before a prospective buyer comes knocking. This can help to ensure no surprises that could ultimately stand in the way of a prospective buyer. Often times, I find that if we are pro-active and provide the Inspection Report, many buyers decide not to have their own inspection done.

A standard inspection report covers the condition of the heating system, central air-conditioning, internal plumbing, electrical systems, roof, attic, construction, insulation, walls, ceilings, floors, windows and doors, appliances, foundation and structural components. I have seen good concise, detailed reports and I have seen some really poor reports that detail hardly anything. I am proud to say that I have several Inspectors that I work with on a regular basis. Inspectors whose opinions and professional integrity I value greatly. Many inspectors don't walk the roof, however, the Inspectors I use, do walk the roof and provide the client an extremely detailed and thorough report. Additionally, the inspectors I recommend are willing to be a resource for the buyer as long as they own the house. This is valuable to a buyer on the day of inspection and for many years to come. As a Realtor I learn something new every time I am with an Inspector.

Sara Hibbard is a licensed Realtor in the state of Georgia. Sara Hibbard looks forward to answering your many questions about choosing an inspector or questions regarding the Atlanta real estate market in general or specifics regarding the buying / selling process. Call Sara at 770-399-8108 or e-mail her at sara.hibbard@metrobrokers.com. Sara Hibbard is Glad Georgia Real Estate Is On Your Mind!