So, who's afraid of the big, bad Home Inspection?
By Ron W. Ringen
owner of 'Ringen’s Unbiased Inspections'
No matter whom you talk to that is involved in a
home sale transaction, whether it be the owner, buyer or real estate
agent, everyone has a certain amount of reservation concerning a home
inspection or “termite” inspection. But why, all that it entails is
basically a visual inspection of the home and a short written report,
right? So, who’s afraid of the big, bad home inspection? Everyone it
seems!
Let me start by making an obvious observation. For most
all of us, the single biggest investment we will make in our lifetime is
the purchase of our own home. Not only is it an investment that we can’t
have go sour, but we must make a comfortable, safe place out of the
dwelling to protect and grow our families that we can live in happily and
call “home”. And when we’ve outgrown or want a new/different home,
we need to realize the equity we have built up in the property to help us
purchase our next “home”. “OK”, you say, “I know all of this.
What has this got to do with being afraid of home inspections?”
Everything, actually, because it is well known that buying or selling a
home is probably the second biggest stress we will encounter in our life.
All the uncertainty and suspicions begin to “bubble to the surface” as
the home sale process grinds on which skews our thinking, and sometimes
our common sense. So, let’s look logically at what a home inspection has
to offer for each participant in the home sale process. I want to start
with the home owner who is thinking about moving and about to list his/her
property for sale, because usually they are the ones that think they have
nothing to gain from, and everything to loose from a home inspection.
Nothing could be further from the truth.
No matter what “shape” the owner feels his/her
property is in (good, bad or in between), the smartest thing they can do
is spend the few dollars necessary for an accurate home inspection and
“termite” inspection. Spending these few dollars in the beginning will
save you major dollars and stress in the end. Possessing this information
prior to listing your home for sale not only enables you to plan, but to
price your property accurately. The information gleaned from the reports
allows you to take care of any repairs that you feel you want to on your
time schedule, and to obtain bids from various contractors for repairs you
don’t want to tackle yourself, which could save you a lot of money in
the process. When you do list your property for sale, you do so empowered
with the knowledge that you know of, or have taken care of any repairs,
and, you can go into negotiations with the buyer straight on because you
have a “heads-up” on what the condition of your home is. This
negotiating strength will allow you to realize as much of your equity as
possible to be used to purchase your new home. Most real estate agents
will appreciate this situation also because it takes most all the
uncertainty and stress out of the equation, because, normally the
inspection results are revealed shortly before escrow is to close and
there is no time for obtaining bids or alternative actions, which can
result in a “blown” deal with everyone unhappy.
Most everyone thinks that a home inspection and
“termite” inspection are only for the “protection” of the buyer.
That is only partly true. Sure the inspections are ordered to reveal any
unknown/undisclosed issues. But, the buyer didn’t order and pay for the
inspections to make the property out as garbage! The buyer likes and wants
to spend and invest their hard earned money on the property and want to
make it their “home”. As a prospective purchaser of a home and
property, you want the inspection(s) to validate your decision to purchase
that piece of property. You want to know what you are buying. You, of
course, want to know what the big issues are, if any, but you also want to
know the little things that will be an irritation or money drain before
you sign the contract of sale. You want to make up your own mind as to
what is acceptable as is, and what is not and needs to be negotiated with
the seller. And just about as important, the home inspection is actually
your first in depth “get acquainted” look at your new home because it
covers information on so many of the homes’ components, systems,
utilities and their locations. But even that is not all, if your home
inspector is like most concerned inspectors’, he is your source for
information you can turn to long after the close of escrow when everyone
else involved in the deal has disappeared.
OK, I’m to the real estate agent and what the home
inspection and “termite” inspection has to offer them. How about peace
of mind? How about the good feeling inside that you have put together a
home sale in which both the buyer and seller are happy and there is not
going to be a bad case of “buyers remorse” now that escrow is closed?
How about the fact that you are looked up to as an agent that demands full
disclosure and still can close the deal BECAUSE EVERY BODY KNOWS WHERE
THEY STAND AND WHAT THEY CAN EXPECT OUT OF THE DEAL! In the years I have
been involved in inspecting homes, I can’t tell you how many times I
have seen buyers follow through and close a sale of a home with major
issues because they not only like the home, but because they are fully
aware of its’ short comings and are mentally prepared to take it on.
With truth and knowledge everyone comes out ahead. As I’ve been
preaching for years, your buyer today is your seller tomorrow.
So in closing, there is absolutely nothing to fear from a
home inspection or “termite” inspection except fear itself. These are
“tools” to be used in a positive way to bring about a positive home
sale experience, if you choose to use them in that way.
Ron Ringen owns and operates Ringen’s Unbiased
Inspections, which is located in Sonora, California. Ringen’s Unbiased
Inspections serves the beautiful gold country of California that includes
the foothills and Sierra Mountains in the counties of Tuolumne, Calaveras
and Amadore. Ron has been involved with the Structural Pest Control
business for 43 years and has been a licensed Structural Pest Inspector in
California since 1968. Ron is a licensed General Contractor (B) in
California and has been since 1977. Ron is certified with the American
Institute of Inspectors as a Home Inspector, Manufactured/Modular Home
Inspector and a Pool and Spa Inspector.
By Ron W. Ringen
© 2006
More information at:
http://www.unbiasedinspections.com/afraid_of_home_inspections.html
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