Selling your home is rarely ever an easy process. Apart from the awful paperwork, it usually takes a very long time just to find a suitable buyer. Not to mention you have to spend money on a credible real estate agent who has the time to show it and help impulse interest in it. This process can be made a lot easier if you sell your home to an investor. An investor will usually buy your house as is, and make the paperwork process a lot easier. This is due to the fact that they are more familiar with the whole process.

But, what if you could sell you home in under a month, start to finish? Would you entertain selling your house to a company like Offerpad? There will still be a home inspection, but you wont have to hire an agent, keep your house clean and buyer ready for months (that includes no strangers coming in and snooping around your living space), and avoid the hassles of buyer negotiations.

Three Things to Begin the Home Inspection Process

First, it is important to choose the right home inspection company. The right company is one that is reputable, with a long record of systematically uncovering any issues that a home buyer should be concerned with, normally the buyer pays for this but depending on concessions it may be within the seller’s wheelhouse.

Home inspection costs are also something that buyers should be aware of. Home inspections may cost anywhere between $200 and $600. Most home inspectors are independent agents and thus can set their own prices. To avoid being overcharged, you should shop around, comparing home inspection costs of several companies, thus ensuring they get the best deal.

The final thing that is to create a home inspection checklist. Many companies will provide buyers with a prepared inspection checklist, so you selling a home, need to be ready for what the inspectors will be looking for.

Things a Home Inspector Will Look For

Sellers should not be fearful about having a home inspection performed prior to the closing. They should keep in mind that a home inspection will support the appraisal of the home. After all, no home buyer wants to purchase a home that will immediately need thousands of dollars in repairs, and it’s not good karma to drop a burden on a buyer like that, this is why laws have been put into place.

Also, keep in mind, a home inspector’s duty is not to tell buyers to purchase or not purchase a home; it is to honestly assess and report the condition of the home prior to closing. A typical home inspection will take 2-3 hours, depending on the size of the home, and will involve a detailed inspection of:

  • Heating and Cooling Systems – a failure in these components could mean an immediate outlay of a couple of thousand dollars
  • Interior Plumbing and Electrical Systems – A failure here could also mean thousands in additional costs
  • Roof and Basements or Attics if Applicable – a new roof could cost 10K or more
  • Visible Insulation, Walls, Ceilings, Floors, Windows, Doors — these areas could be considered the least expensive.
  • Foundation and all Structural Components – A foundational defect could result in a complete loss of home, or at the very least mean tens of thousands in repairs. In some areas of the country, it may be wise to investigate the presence of sinkholes.