As home prices decline and mortgage funding dries up, many Realtors® and home sellers have looked to "staging" to help move a home. However, a fresh coat of paint and a little de-cluttering won't necessarily make a savvy buyer overlook more serious problems with a house.
The art of staging prepares a home for sale by removing certain personal items, rearranging furnishings, adding furnishings in empty homes and making minor cosmetic changes to neutralize the home's decor while highlighting the home's virtues. Staging is an important tool that can help make a positive first impression, but today's home buyer is more cautious than ever and still wants to know the true condition of the home behind the fresh coat of paint.
More than 40 percent of resale homes on the market - that's two out of every five - will have at least one serious defect when they are listed for sale. HouseMaster franchises have conducted almost 2 million home inspections system-wide, and their experience revealed that the following issues are most likely to be a major issue to a homebuyer.
•· cracked heat exchanger in furnace
•· failing air-conditioning system
•· environmental hazards, such as radon, water contamination, and asbestos
•· signs of a wet basement
•· defective roofing and/or flashings (or signs of leakage)
•· insect infestation, such as termites or carpenter ants
•· mixed plumbing
•· aluminum wiring
•· horizontal foundation cracks
•· major house settlement
•· undersized electrical system
•· chimney settling/separation/deterioration
Staging a home definitely helps make it more appealing, but making select repairs adds value and marketability to a serious buyer. More home sellers are using a pre-listing home inspection to better understand how potential buyers might view the home's condition. This information can be used to invest in repairs that will make the home more desirable and competitive, or it can be shared with prospective buyers to show that the house was priced in a thoughtful and educated manner. Both approaches give the seller a little more control over the process.
Many homebuyers do purchase houses with aging appliances or other issues. They simply want to factor these repair costs into the home buying equation. Having good, credible information on hand can help people budget wisely and contribute to a smoother negotiation process on both sides of the table.
For more information about common home deficiencies, finding reputable home inspectors, and negotiating tips, visit www.housemaster.com. Or call us at 804-745-4588
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HouseMaster Home Inspections has over 25 years of industry leading experience.
Why you need HouseMaster
A home inspection protects all parties
The truth is, without a thorough home inspection performed by a qualified professional, neither the buyer nor the seller can really know what defects may exist in a home. HouseMaster has more experience with home inspections and buying than any other franchise company. As part of your home inspection, your local HouseMaster professional will evaluate all the major elements of the home, including heating, cooling, structure, electrical, plumbing - and more, so that you can make an informed home purchase decision.
Why a home inspection is a smart investment
Whether this is your first time buying a home or you have bought and sold many homes, HouseMaster recommends you obtain a professional home inspection to take advantage of these benefits:
Important tips when arranging a home inspection
When buying a home, you will want to order a home inspection soon after your purchase offer has been accepted.
Many of the real estate contracts allow a limited number of days to complete a home inspection (and then to request repairs, or cancel the contract if needed).
Inspect the inspector.
There is no one background that fully trains an individual for all the different conditions that may exist in a home. And even in areas where licensing exists, many programs fall short. Regardless of their technical background or licensing, all home inspectors should be formally trained/certified to perform a home inspection by an organization such as the National Institute of Building Inspectors (NIBI®)*, thus insuring their knowledge of the home inspection and home buying process. Choose a home inspector who has earned credentials for competence and professionalism. Make sure the inspector you select has access to on-going technical support and offers you post-inspection advice if needed.
If the home is vacant, confirm that the seller will have all utilities on during the home inspection.
Failure to do so may require a second trip to the home when the utilities are on, and you will incur additional fees. To properly evaluate a home a professional inspector must be able to operate the systems, thus requiring the utilities to be on.
Accompany the inspector during the home inspection.
This is your opportunity to gain knowledge of major systems, appliances and fixtures, learn maintenance tips, better understand the items that will be outlined in the written report, and ask questions of the inspector.
If your inspector recommends a further evaluation, please have a specialist in that area conduct a more extensive examination PRIOR to closing.
Be sure you understand all conditions identified in the inspection report and reported defects/and or areas of concern have been resolved to your satisfaction before closing . You can click here to view/print a FREE Pre-Closing Checklist to use on your walk-through inspection.
Insist on a final walk-through prior to close of escrow to verify that repairs have been made and that no new problems have surfaced since the home inspection, particularly in the areas where furnishings and storage may have previously obstructed the defect.
What is involved in a pre-purchase home inspection
A home inspector conducts a visual examination of the home you are planning to buy. He or she will examine all the major elements of the home, such as the roof, structure, exterior siding, interior electrical, interior plumbing, heating and air conditioning. A thorough inspection usually takes 2 to 3 hours, depending on home size and age. Normally, the home inspection is paid for by the buyer, although more and more sellers are retaining the services of a professional home inspector before sale negotiations begin. Each HouseMaster home inspection is backed in writing by the HouseMaster Limited Written Guarantee, where permitted by law. This ensures our customers that they are getting the most qualified, concerned and professional home inspection service available. Contact your local office for exact terms and conditions. Terms and Condition may vary from office to office. Not available at all locations.
804-745-4588 or 800-526-3939 http://www.housemaster.com/
Many HouseMaster offices can also arrange for ancillary services such as pool inspections, radon screening, termite inspections, water analyses, lead-based paint testing or septic/well system evaluations. Take advantage of this so you can further minimize finding post-sale problems or hazards in your new home.
*HouseMaster began NIBI in 1987 in an effort to standardize training and testing for HouseMaster inspectors. Today NIBI training and on-going support is open to all home inspectors via classroom or on-line training.
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Real Estate Professionals:
We have partnered with many real estate professionals and industry leaders to bring the best, most accurate information to home buyers and sellers. Our Web site has been a recognized, dependable resource for consumers as acknowledged by the Good Housekeeping Web site certification earned earlier this year.
By popular request, we have launched the HouseMaster Library, an online database of articles that real estate professionals can use free of charge for their newsletters, blogs and customer outreach programs. For your convenience, articles can be accessed by topic or by word count.
You can visit the Web site at http://www.library.housemaster.com/ to learn more and sign up to browse the articles. More material will be added and refreshed on a frequent basis. And if you have any suggestions for topics, we are always happy to gather your feedback.
If you have any questions or suggestions about this or any of our programs, please feel free to contact us 745-4588.
HouseMaster Advantages
Choosing a home and building inspection company is not unlike choosing a home - it's smart to shop around and always consider what you're getting, not just what you're paying.
When you look at things this way, HouseMaster offers a combination of advantages that is second to none. Our unique level of experience, training and available annual inspector testing in conjunction with our easy to understand, yet comprehensive report format are just a few of the advantages that HouseMaster customers remember and appreciate. When it's time for your home inspection, call HouseMaster. Home Inspections. Done Right.
NIBI ® Trained Inspectors
Your local HouseMaster inspector has access to the most respected training and certification program in the industry - the National Institute of Building Inspectors (NIBI), an affiliated training organization.
Inspection Resource GuideTM
HouseMaster home inspectors are truly committed to helping you make the most out of your inspection experience. The Inspection Resource GuideTM is filled with tools to help you get all your questions answered, understand what we do, understand what you need to do after the inspection and how to understand your inspection report findings.
Computer Generated Express® Inspection Report
We understand that the real estate transaction is time sensitive. Our inspectors provide a completed inspection report on site, or they will provide you with an exclusive customer login to access your inspection report and related documents online.
The Recognized Leader
HouseMaster inspectors have collectively completed nearly 2 million inspections. Our staff has even been featured on The Today Show, CNN, CBC, HGTV, and CNBC.
Referral Liability Protection
Concerned about liability for recommending a home inspector? HouseMaster offers exclusive protection for referral sources, so real estate professionals can feel comfortable when their clients choose a HouseMaster inspector.
Home Ownership Resources
To help support our clients before and after the sale of a home, HouseMaster has developed a number of resources - including a monthly e-newsletter filled with home-related tips and seasonal advice.
Pre-Inspection Plan For Home Sellers
A home inspection commissioned by the seller prior to listing can help make any home more attractive and help you get to a closing faster.
"I didn't really know anything about your services, but you had an impressive website and you were able to accommodate my request and schedule me on short notice. I have had a home inspection done before and your company exceeds them by far. I recommended you to my realtor and suggested that she use your company for all home inspections that she handles for her clients. Thanks again for a great inspection and I appreciate your professionalism. " Nicole C. - Chesterfield, VA
"Thank you Scott for the thorough and informative inspection. The time you took in explaining the aspects of the home as well as your friendly and positive attitude put my wife and I at ease. We will recommend your services. Thanks Again!" William K. - Chesterfield, VA
"Scott was excellent!!! I don't know how the inspection could have been any better. Thank you so much!!" Tracy J. - Richmond, Virginia
"Mr. Wharton was very thorough and knowledgable. He walked us through every step of the process. The report was very easy to undersatand with exellent detail. Will highly recommend. " Jon & Jennifer C. - Glen Allen, Virginia
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