REALTORS®, here’s how to create customer value from home inspections.
You’ve finally found your client what seems to be the perfect home. It’s got all their must-haves and some of their nice-to-haves, too. It looks like it’s in excellent condition, but appearance alone isn’t enough when it comes to such a huge financial decision. Enter the home inspection.
Home inspections are detailed and can often include up to 100 separately identified issues. But while it can be a good start for the home buyer, it doesn’t necessarily provide a clear indication of the relative importance of issues. And some systems in the home are only superficially addressed. Helping buyers understand which items may be more significant can be an important way to add value to your service.
When we help customers work through their inspection lists, we first help them address the most serious issues first.
These can include:
- Structural foundation issues
- Electrical issues related to the main or sub breaker box
- HVAC issues
- Anything having to do with a roof vent or window seal
- Older tanked water heaters located in attics
- Potential sewage line blockages
Inspection reports will frequently not provide a full indication of the extent of the above issues. During closing, it can be well worth the investment to have the appropriate professionals in each field do a more detailed diagnosis. This can ensure that negotiations focus on only the most important issues and that there are fewer surprises for the buyer down the road.
Cosmetic issues may grab the buyer’s attention at first and are often used in negotiations because they are visible. However, they’re frequently less serious and can be taken care of relatively easily after closing.
Examples include:
- Cracked tiles
- Flooring scratches
- Paint touch ups
- Inoperable light fixtures or switches
Some items may not be worth fighting to be corrected and instead should be used to simply negotiate the price down. For example, a new tankless water heater (without a flush kit installed) should not cost more than a couple hundred dollars to have fixed, something that can be taken care of easily after closing.
PreFix is happy to assist any partner REALTOR® in going through their client’s inspection list.