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Seller Home Inspections Offer Tremendous Marketing Advantages

A Seller Home Inspection or "Move In Certified" inspection is the new trend in marketing advantages for sellers and professional real estate agents. A "Move In Certified" Seller Home Inspection will virtually eliminate all the hassles and blown deals caused by traditional buyer inspections. Home Inspection for sellers gives the leverage back to the homeowner (and their Realtor) and offers tremendous marketing advantages. 

Real estate sales deals fall through simply because the seller did not get a professional Home Inspection to evaluate the condition of their house before putting it on the market. Eventually, potential buyers are going to hire an inspector to find Defects (Common Defects). The selling homeowner may as well know what an inspector is going to reveal and correct any possible issues in advance. The advantages of a "Move In Certified" North Texas Home Inspection are numerous. Consider the following:

• Marketing advantage, including listing and yard signs as "Move In Certified".
• Online listing advantage that makes a sellers property stand out from thousands of others.
• See the sellers real estate through the eyes of a critical third-party.
• Seller home inspections assist in realistic pricing.
• Make repairs ahead of time so that defects won't become negotiating stumbling blocks later.
• Encourage the buyer to waive contingencies, even another home inspection.
• Relieve buyer concerns and suspicions.
• Reduces the Realtor and home owner liability by adding professional supporting documentation to your disclosure statement.
• The report can help the seller substantiate a higher asking price if problems don't exist or have been corrected.
• Alerts you to immediate safety issues before agents and visitors tour your home.
• Sellers can use the report to communicate to contractors the nature of the defect(s), to obtain estimates for repair or to arrange for repairs or replacements.
• A seller inspection lightens negotiations and 11th-hour renegotiations.
• A seller inspection is the ultimate gesture in forthrightness on the part of the seller.
• Real estate agents who recommend seller home inspections are regarded as true professionals leaving nothing to chance.

In today's economy, buyers have more homes to choose from than ever before making it a "buyer's market". Why should they stop and look at your house? What is different about your house and online listing from so many others? To catch buyers and Realtors attention, you need to make your house stand out from the rest. A Seller Home Inspection eliminates some natural fears of the buyer right away by letting them know that this home in generally good shape or better. When buyers look online for homes, they can pass over your listing fast. Just because you may think your house is in good shape does not separate it from the 1000's of others that you may be competing with for the buyers attention. A Seller Home Inspection can give you the marketing edge you need to sell your home for more, faster.

Annual Home Maintenance Home Inspections - Protect Your Investment

Many Professional Home Inspectors offer annual home maintenance inspections also known as a home checkup inspections. Keeping your home in good condition is a smart thing to do and provides marketing advantages when you are ready to sell. An experienced home inspector will review your property each year to provide a complete home maintenance inspection report that will identify Common Defects major concerns, safety concerns, repair needs and items which should be monitored over time.

Home maintenance inspections are like a standard home inspection but are designed for those home owners who are not involved in a real estate transaction. If you are interested in preserving your home in great condition and prefer professional help, a home maintenance inspection is the right choice for you.

A home maintenance inspection is ideal for those who wish to maintain their home in optimum condition. Maintaining your home is a wise investment and will improve your energy savings as well as keep your family safe.

The purpose of an annual home maintenance inspection is to preserve the home in optimum condition, to be informed of repair needs and to avoid future problems. Our Professional Home Inspector is educated and trained to identify changes and upgrade in building standards and inspects every property using the Texas Standards of Practice and local building codes. As building codes and standards change, our reports will help you maintain your real estate and make improvements to stay up to date.

Home Inspection - Upon Taking Ownership Of A Home

After taking possession of a home, there are some maintenance and safety issues that should be addressed immediately.  Selman Home Inspection always recommends hiring certified, licensed professionals to perform tasks which homeowners are not qualified or equipped to perform. The following checklist should help you undertake these improvements:

1. Change the locks on all exterior entrances, for improved security.
2. Check that all windows and doors are secure.  Improve window hardware as necessary.  
3. Security rods can be added to sliding windows and doors.  Consideration could also be given to a security system.
4. Install smoke detectors on each level of the home.  Ensure that there is a smoke detector in every sleeping area and adjacent hallway.  Replace batteries on any existing smoke detectors and test them.  
5. Create a plan of action in the event of a fire in your home.  Ensure that there is an operable window or door in every room of the house.  Consult with your local fire department regarding fire safety issues and what to do in the event of fire.
6. Examine driveways and walkways for trip hazards and undertake repairs where necessary.
7. Examine the interior of the home for trip hazards.  Damaged carpeting and flooring should be repaired.
8. Undertake improvements to all stairways, decks, porches and landings where there is a risk of falling or stumbling.
9. Install rain caps and vermin screens on all chimney flues, as necessary.
10. Investigate the location of the main shut-offs for the plumbing, heating and electrical systems.  If you attended the home inspection, these items would have been pointed out to you.
11. Review your home inspection report for any items that require immediate improvement or further investigation.  

Home Inspection - A Systematic Guide To Preventive Maintenance

A systematic guide to home maintenance allows one to monitor certain conditions and components of their home. Regular roof inspections, for example, will give you enough advance warning to allow for several roofing quotes in order to make an educated and cost effective purchase of a new roof covering. If on the other hand, no maintenance is done, and the roof suddenly leaks, there is very little time to do comparative shopping. Under these circumstances, one is forced to go with the roofer who can do the job the fastest - not necessarily with the roofing materials of your choice or at the best possible price.

In addition to monitoring systems in your home which wear out, structural monitoring can also be performed. It is not uncommon for people who have been living in a house for some time to suddenly realize that a door frame is out of square and the door does not close properly. With regular maintenance, the cracks which occur in the wall surfaces adjacent to the door frame can be monitored. Knowing whether these cracks have appeared suddenly or have been increasing at a specific rate, is valuable information when diagnosing the problem and designing a repair.

Regular home maintenance is not everybody's cup of tea. Hiring a Professional Home Inspector to perform annual home maintenance inspections and certified, licensed specialists to perform repairs is a prudent decision. Ideally, preventative maintenance inspections should be performed semi-annually in the spring and fall. However, some components require more or less frequent inspections. Records of any work performed should be maintained.

New Questions For Today's Home Inspector

Peace of mind is the top reasons that home buyers hire a professional home inspector. People want to know that the home they are buying is not a money pit. They want to know that the home they buy is safe and in the best condition possible for their family. And, if there are repair needs, buyers want to have an idea about what to do about the defects, what the repairs will cost and how soon they need to be done. Asking the right questions of a perspective home inspector is important.

There are many traditional things that are suggested qualities for a great home inspection. And, there are lots of questions that people have been told for years to ask a home inspector before they hire one. Some of these are questions like;

• What gets inspected?
• How long have you been an inspector?
• How many inspections have you done?
• Can I attend the inspection?
• How long will the home inspection take?
• What will the inspection cost?

In addition to these questions, you may also want to ask if the inspector has any referrences. Today, video referrences are preferred by many.

Cool Resources For Home Buyers, Sellers & Their Agents

Every real estate website has links to resources that the agents find useful, and that they hope their site visitors will enjoy. It is the same with Home Inspectors. Real estate website links tend to be more about property listings, agents, office staff, home warranties and all of the information and resources about buying or selling a home. 

But, what about home maintenance, home inspections, home building, appliance recalls, reasons to hire an inspector, how to use a home inspection, how to understand home inspection defects and other information that home buyers can use to improve their buying or selling experience.

As real estate industry professionals and professional home inspectors, we can do more for our clients and increase the value of our services when we help to better educate buyers and sellers. Let's do more than get to the pay check or bottom line.  By doing so, we not only gain respect as experts in our field, our clients will remember us and remember that we cared enough to provide as much information as possible to make the transition to or from a home a good one.

For my Home Inspection Company, this means providing value added resources in the form of links on my home inspection reports and my websites. I want to help buyers and sellers not to make a real estate mistake in this economy and, I want to help my clients avoid trauma, safety issues, worry and, most especially, buyers remorse.

Below is a list of resource links which my clients find very useful. As a home inspector, these are available on my website and, many are also part of my inspection reports. I hope you will take the initiative and add these and other helpful links to your websites, brochures and reports.

• Why Hire An Inspector
• Understanding Defects
• How To Use A Home Inspection
• Home Inspection Blog
• Recall Notices
• Building Science
• House Logic
• Home Facts
• Environmental Resource Data
• Transit Score
• 101 Home Selling Tips
• Sell Your Home For More
• Upon Taking Ownership, Maintenance Advise
• Complete Home Maintenance Advise
• EPA Guide To Septic Systems

If you have other useful resource links that you can share, please do. I look forward to hearing what other value added resources I can use to improve my clients experience with my firm. And, I hope you find the resources above valuable to your clients.

As a shameless plug, I also ask you to link directly to my website where your clients can find the links listed above and many others. 

Selman Home Inspections - Selman Home Inspection Company is a full service North Texas Home Inspection company serving Ellis County, Dallas County, Collin County, Tarrant County and surrounding North Texas. Free 100 day Home Inspection Coverage with every buyer inspection!

(http://www.selmanhomeinspections.com)

Thinking Of Selling Your Home? Then Prepare Your Home To Sell!

In order to be successful at selling your home, there is much more to it than picking a Realtor and getting a "For Sale" sign in your yard. Sure, having a great Realtor is important. And, all of the marketing that a Realtor can offer you to generate interest in your home is important. 

So, my recommendation is, don't make a mistake in this economy! You want to make as much money as possible when you sell, and, you don't want any nasty surprises or counter offers when you are so close to the finish line. When your Realtor lands a contract for you on your home, there are still several hurtles to overcome. Namely, the buyer home inspection!

Home sellers and their real estate agents are forever blind sided by the results of a home inspection. Your potential buyer is advised by their agent to get a home inspection. Often, the buyer's home inspection kills the deal or creates unwanted negotiations or repair demands. After all, the person or family buying your home wants to avoid trauma, buyers remorse and, they want to know that the home home they are considering is safe for them and their family. The buyer does not want to worry and wants to make every effort to protect themselves.

So, the answer is simple. PREPARE YOUR HOME TO SELL! Hire a Professional Home Inspector to perform a Seller Home Inspection and provide you with a report. A buyer home inspection and a seller home inspection are identical in most states. There may be variances in what inspectors find or report, but by hiring a Professional Home Inspector as the home seller, you gain tremendous advantages.

By hiring a professional home inspector as a home seller, you will know ahead of time what many of the items are that the buyers home inspector may report. Sellers can use their home inspection report to communicate to contractors the nature of the defect(s) to obtain estimates for repair or to arrange for repairs or replacements before a potential buyer finds these items. The advantage is that buy knowing, you can make needed repairs or upgrades as well as improve any safety issues before your sale is complicated and your potential buyer backs out of the contract. A Seller Home Inspection will virtually eliminate all the hassles and blown deals caused by traditional buyer inspections. A Seller Home Inspection gives the leverage back to the seller (and their Realtor) and gives the home seller tremendous marketing advantages.

A home buyer does not want to have to do to many repairs when they move in. When moving, the home buyer has many other things to deal with. Preparing Your Home To Sell is a smart decision and will make the sellers home more appealing and when listed as "Move In Certified", will gain even more in marketing advantages.

There are thousands of possible deal breakers when selling your home. Some are minor and others may be major. Either way, you should know if before your buyer does. You decide which home inspection report items you want to fix, which ones you want to disclose in a real estate disclosure statement and which ones you feel are unimportant. The more you know about and fix ahead of time, the fewer complications you can expect with the sale of your home. To get you started in Preparing Your Home To Sell, here are a few minor repairs and home improvement items that can make a huge difference:

• Make sure electrical panels, water heaters, crawl spaces and attics are accessible
• There should be a solid surface walk way to attic stored appliances such as HVAC
• There should be smoke detectors installed in all bedrooms and adjacent hallways.
• Electrical receptacles and light switches should all have covers in good condition
• Ceiling fans and ceiling lights should be working
• Install anti-siphon devices on all exterior water spigots ($8 at Lowes or Home Depot)
• Trim trees and shrubbery so as not to be in contact with the house exterior or roof covering
• Remove excess soil around the foundation walls. The inspector should be able to see 4-6" of the top of the foundation wall
• Repair interior drywall cracks in walls and ceilings
• Replace cracked or broken floor tiles
• Replace broken window glass
• Repair or replace broken window locks
• Have the HVAC serviced to insure it heats and cools propery
• Test garage door safety devices to make sure they operate
• Be sure there is an anti-tip device installed on all free standing ovens and ranges
• By today's standards, all kitchen countertop and bathroom electrical receptacles should be GFCI protected
• Make sure that sinks drain quickly and do not appear to drain slowly. Be sure sinks are not leaking inside cabinets
• Check and be sure that the dishwasher is physically attached to the cabinets or countertop
• All bathtub and bathroom drain stoppers should be working
• Dead bolt locks should have a thumb latch on the interior side of the lock (fire safety)
• Repair any drywall damage in the garage/living area walls
• Replace damaged insulation on HVAC cooling lines

Many home owners can do these simple tasks or hire a handy man to take care of them. These are just a few of the possible 1000s of items a Professional Home Inspector will report. Believe me, all the little things add up and can cause a potential buyer to see a home as poorly maintained. And, these are simple, inexpensive things you can do to Prepare Your Home To Sell.

A Sellers Home Inspection is a small cost for so much information and so many advantages. Whether you are a home buyer or a home seller, the home inspector you choose is working for you, with your best interests in mind. That is certainly true for Selman Home Inspection.

Buying A Home From The Home Inspectors Perspective, Condos & Townhouses

Part 6 - Buying A Condo Or Townhouse From A Home Inspectors Perspective

If you dislike doing yard work and other outside chores, then a condo or Townhouse may be right for you. Condos and townhouses are also normally associated with inner city living for those who enjoy the benefits of being in the middle of it all. With little or no yard work and convenient to shopping, dining, schools and work, they may be a good fit for your lifestyle.

Keep in mind that condos and townhouses have many of the same attributes as most homes and should be professionally inspected when they are bought or sold. As a buyer, you will still want to know the condition of everything from the foundation to the shingles. And, the condition of these items on the units that attach to yours.

Condos and Townhouses normally have adjoining or continuous foundations and roofing structures much like an apartment. The unit you are considering should still be inspected for these elements as well as the traditional items included in today's home inspections. Attics and fire rated blockage should be checked as well as the condition of the roof coverings down to the slab. So, yes, you will want to hire a Professional Home Inspector who is experience in inspecting these kinds of properties. 

If your condo or townhouse is a two story, you will also want to fully understand the condition of stairways and balconies. Are the balusters property spaced? Are the hand rails properly mounted? Are balconies safety cantilevered into the building structure? How well has the condo or townhouse you are considering been maintained and kept up with today's Texas Standards of Practice? A certified, licensed Professional Home Inspector is trained to know and report these conditions to you.

In an apartment, the building owner is responsible for repairs, maintenance and upgrades. When you buy a condo or townhouse, you are the owner and are responsible for the home just like any other structure. And sometime, there are HOAs (Home Owner Associations) which govern everything from the pets you can have to what kinds of vehicles you can park in your driveway.

Is a condo or townhouse right for you and your family? Maybe so, but, what ever type of housing you choose, please, for your own well being, don't neglect the importance of a home inspection.

Buying A Home From The Home Inspectors Perspective, Manufactured Homes

Part 5 - Buying A Manufactured Home, From A Home Inspectors Perspective

In my experience as a North Texas Professional Home Inspector, I have seen some very nice manufactured homes that were well maintained and in great condition. But just like "stick built" houses, I have also seen many that are in desparate need of some TLC.

Yes. Manufactured homes should have a Professional Home Inspector provide a complete report. And like other homes, WDI reports (wood destroying insects) and septic system inspections are also prudent. In addition, it is now mandatory in Texas that any time a manufactured home is bought, sold or moved, that it receive a Foundation Certification from a licensed engineer. The state requires it and all reputable lenders require it. It is important to note not only because it is smart and a requirement, but because it is a cost consideration in buying a manufactured home.

As I said, a home inspection, WDI report and a septic system report are just as important when considering a manufactured home as any other type of housing. And on top of it, you will need the engineers foundation certification as well which can cost as must as $700.

Selman Home Inspection is a certified field agent for several leading engineering firms and provides the required foundation inspection. The manufactured home foundation report which includes photos is sent to the engineering firm for analysis. 

In general, the field agent or inspector takes photos of the foundation including the footers, blocks, beams and tie downs. The inspectors report of the foundation along with the photos are sent to the engineering firm. If the foundation is satisfactory, the engineering firm issues a "Foundation Certification" which is provided to the lender and sometimes, the insurance company.

Because of the nature of the way manufactured homes are installed at their location, lenders and inspectors believe that it is important to insure that the structure is sound, level, properly supported and, properly tied down so as not to be damaged by severe weather. Sometimes the purpose of a manufactured home is the ability to move it from one location to another. Because unlike other housing, a manufactured home is sometimes moved, it is another reason that lenders and insurers want to "certify" the foundation and tie down system of manufactured housing.

So, if you are considering the purchase of a manufactured home, you will want to understand that at least in Texas, it will require a foundation inspection not normally required of other structures. And, there are other considerations:

• Plumbing is often APEX or PVC
• There is no attic space
• The crawl space should be well protected from entry but well ventilated.
• Replacement doors and windows are often not the same size as those in other structure and must be special ordered.
• The HVAC duct work is normally in the crawl space.

Buying A Home From The Home Inspectors Perspective, Rural Homes

Part 4 - Buying A Rural Home, From The Home Inspectors Perspective

I love living in my rural home. There is plenty of space to raise cattle, horses, chickens ( which my wife loves ), a garden and kids. My nearest neighbor is a quarter mile away. The nearest town is 5 miles away. The main city areas that I serve as a Professional Home Inspector are only about 30-40 miles away which is well within driving distance. But, a house in the country or rural suburbs is still a house. It will still require maintenance, updates and care. And, it may have a few items that a home in the city may not have.

One of the biggest things to understand is that a rural home will most likely have some type of a septic system instead of being on a city sewage system. When buying a rural property, it is important to have the septic system inspected by a certified, licensed Septic System Inspector. Most lenders now require that the septic system be inspected. And, there are few certified, licensed septic system inspectors in North Texas. When hiring a Professional Home Inspection firm to inspect your rural property, try to find one like Selman Home Inspection Company which is certified and licensed to inspect all of the items in your rural property.

Rural properties often also have outbuilding such as barns, sheds and workshops. These outbuildings should also be inspected to insure that you as a prospective buyer understand their construction, use and repair needs. Many outbuilding have plumbing and electrical wiring which should be thoroughly inspected to identify any safetyt hazards or needed repairs. Remember too that these outbuildings, like the house itself will also require routine maintenance.

Ever build or repair a fence? Most rural properties have fencing styles that are unlike those in town. Rural fences like barbed wire, steel pipe, cattle panels or no-climb horse fence will require maintenance and care, almost every year. So when buying a rural property, keep in mind that you may also need to "ride fence" just like the cowboys of days gone by.

Another consideration when buying a rural home is drive time and the fuel costs to get anywhere else. With the price of fuel these days, driving to and from town can add up. Two trips per day to town to pick up and drop of school age kids takes time and fuel costs. Trips to the grocery store, hardware store, feed store, and everywhere else you need to go to get the things you need will take a little longer and cost a little more.

So, if you are thinking that you want to live in a rural home, great! As I said before, my family and I love it and would not change a thing ( except the price of fuel ). But, as your friendly neighborhood Professional Home Inspector, I thought you may want to give some thought to a few of the things that are different from living in the city.