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Realtors' Frequently Asked Questions | |||||
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Below are some commonly asked questions that Realtors have about home inspections. Just click on the question to see a detailed answer. And if you don't see the answer you want, help is just a phone call away at 770 988-9929. 1. WHAT IS A HOME INSPECTION? A home inspection is an objective visual examination of the physical structure and systems of a home, from the roof to the foundation. Having a home inspection is like giving it a physical. If problems or symptoms are found, the inspector may recommend further evaluation.
2. WHAT DOES A HOME INSPECTION INCLUDE? House Smart’s standard inspection reports review the condition of the home’s heating system, central air conditioning system, interior plumbing and electrical systems; the roof, attic and visible insulation; walls, ceilings, floors, doors and windows; the foundation, basement, and the visible structure of the home. House Smart’s computerized reports include digital photographs of the home’s issues and are given to clients onsite. Our services also include access to our free Extended Advice program. Extended Advice is an email-based program that homebuyers can customize to give them monthly maintenance advice specific to their homes. Homeowners who participate in this free program may also take advantage of expert advice from inspectors for 12 full months after their inspections.
3. DOES THE AGENT NEED TO BE THERE FOR THE INSPECTION? Agents are not required to be present at the inspection, but it is recommended for the agent to attend at least the last hour of the inspection. This gives the agents a chance to ask questions of the inspector directly and to see the home through the inspector’s eyes. This will also give the agent a better understanding of the inspection report, and of the property itself. It is particularly important for new agents to attend the inspection. Many experienced agents will have someone from their team attend the inspection rather than participating themselves.
4. HOW LONG WILL THE INSPECTION TAKE? The time required generally depends on the size of the home. For example, an average 2,500 square foot home will take between 2-3 hours to inspect. Another factor that may affect inspection time is the condition of the home. If the home has a lot of problems, additional time may be required for the inspector to describe those problems and discuss what options the buyer may have to repair those problems.
5. WHAT ABOUT NEW HOUSES? WHY SHOULD THEY BE INSPECTED? An inspection of a new property is important to help spot any shortcuts the contractor or builder may have taken. A trained home inspector will be able to spot certain telltale signs that might otherwise go unnoticed to an untrained eye. Especially valuable is an inspection before the drywall is put up. This gives the buyer the chance to identify and fix problems when they are much easier to spot and repair. Revealing issues during the framing process that will later be hidden beneath walls can potentially save homebuyers thousands of dollars in repairs.
6. HOW MUCH DOES A HOUSE SMART INSPECTION COST? The cost of a home inspection varies based upon a number of factors, including size, age, special services requested, etc. Typically, the cost is in the range of $295 to $450, although the fees can go higher. However, cost should not be a factor in deciding whether or not a buyer has his or her home inspected. Rather, they should consider the home inspection an investment that will pay for itself many times over.
7. WHAT IF THE REPORT REVEALS SOME PROBLEMS? No house is perfect. If there are problems, it doesn't mean that your client shouldn't buy the house. However, if there are major problems, you and your client may want to go back to the seller to either get the problems corrected or to negotiate the contract price to reflect the inspector's findings.
8. CAN A HOUSE FAIL ITS INSPECTION? No. A home inspection is not the same a code inspection. While the inspector will be familiar with the local building codes, his or her objectives are to describe the physical condition of the house and indicate what may need repair or replacement.
All of our inspectors are more than willing to spend extra time with agents discussing the condition of a home. We offer agents over the phone advice, a list of contractors qualified to make repairs, and even give out our inspectors cell phone numbers so that agents never have to struggle to get in touch with their inspector. House Smart also offers realtor "Lunch and Learns" and Continuing Education classes.
10. DOES HOUSE SMART SPONSOR OPEN HOUSES, GRAND OPENINGS, AND OTHER REALTOR EVENTS? Unfortunately, we cannot sponsor every event we’re asked to, but we do factor realtor events into our annual marketing budget, so that we can help our agents to grow and succeed. After all, we think it’s only appropriate to support those who have continually supported our company and helped us to achieve our goals.
To learn more about House Smart and home inspections, click on one of the links to the left. To arrange an inspection, call us at 770 988-9929 or click here to schedule online.
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