The home inspection is a process in every real estate transaction where a licensed expert is called upon to check the structural soundness of a home that’s about to be bought. While the buyer commonly calls for these services, a seller could also have a home inspection done. If you have plans of putting your Rancho Santa Fe home up for sale soon, it would do you well to have an inspector comb through it before you place it on the market.
This article will show you how you stand to benefit from having your property inspected prior to actual resale, as well as other useful information that could help you better navigate the home-selling process before, during, and after inspection.
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THE BASICS OF THE HOME INSPECTION
While not a required segment of a home-buying or home-selling transaction, real estate experts and mortgage lenders highly recommend that an inspection of the house be done. This usually takes place after negotiations between concerned parties are concluded and a contract is about to be drafted.
What you find out after the inspection can strengthen your position as a seller. That’s because you have the opportunity to eliminate structural flaws that would have made prospective buyers reconsider their purchase. You also gain more confidence to negotiate for a higher price.
Who does it
As mentioned earlier, only a licensed home inspector can conduct the home inspection. Whether you’re selling your home or buying one, this professional is the one to call to thoroughly examine the house’s different features for defects or flaws. Their expertise allows them to find potential problems that usually cannot be detected by plain eyesight. Using the tools of their trade, they could detect brewing issues – even those hidden behind walls.
What are the costs of a home inspection
A home inspection in California could cost anywhere from $400 to as high as $600. True enough, this could be quite an investment on top of the costs involved with selling your home. However, consider also how this process could increase your property’s value and make it even more attractive to buyers.
Several factors could also influence a California home inspector’s rate.
- THE TYPE OF INSPECTION REQUESTED. A standard home inspection usually covers the basic areas of a house: wiring, plumbing, the foundation, roofing, HVAC, and other major systems. Add-on areas for inspection include the pool, pests, and radon traces – to mention a few – but each additional area to be inspected will also incur additional costs.
- PROPERTY SIZE. The larger the home, the more areas to inspect – ergo, the higher the asking fee.
- LOCATION. Home inspections may slightly differ wherever you are in the Golden State. For example, Bay Area rates range from $350 to $500; while in San Diego and Los Angeles, from $325 to $450.
- INSPECTOR CREDENTIALS. The more experienced and qualified the home inspector is, the higher their fees. The scope of their specializations can also affect the rates they charge.
HOME FEATURES THAT INSPECTORS WILL CHECK BEFORE LISTING
It is a known fact that California’s real estate is among the most expensive in the country and yet, among the most sought-after. That said, it’s not uncommon for many of the counties here to experience a high demand for properties and an inventory that could barely keep up with the demand. With sellers pretty much dictating the direction of the market, they could be confident enough of an easy sale.
However, with recent upheavals brought about by forces both inside and outside the real estate sphere, this confidence among sellers should be tempered with caution. That’s why having a pre-listing home inspection done is recommended to ensure that the house being sold is worthy of its price; otherwise, buyers may opt to choose homes for sale that are guaranteed to have little to no issues like new construction or recent builds.
During the inspection, the investigation of your property can be narrowed down into the following elements:
Major flaws that damage the structure of your property, including foundation fissures, deteriorating floorboards, and cracks in the roof frameworks.
The home inspection report will zero in on the stability of your property, measuring its condition in line with its longevity, as well as the viability of its future use.
Your roof and related areas are parts that will draw in closer inspection. How much damage has the weather or the seasons done to your roof? Have past storms created leaks and holes? Or has extreme heat caused the shingles to dry out and become rigid? Are the roof’s chimneys and gutters still clean, unobstructed, and functioning?
Related to the issue of structural sustainability and stability is the festering of molds and mildew in your walls and basement. Basement mold, in particular, shouldn’t be dismissed; unchecked, it can lead to serious health issues like asthma, allergies, eye irritation, and skin infections.
Termite infestation is another harmful element that the inspection takes seriously, especially since the warm, dry climate of San Diego County provides the best conditions for these subterranean bugs. They have the ability to weaken foundations: bathroom tiles break off, walls develop holes, and floors squeak. These are all signs of deterioration that future buyers will want to avoid.
Issues that pose security risks to your home.
Some of these issues include electrical problems or loose wiring that can spark a fire. Another example is water drainage deficiencies that can trigger flooding. Stairways and their handrails will also be checked for their sturdiness and stability – homeowners and their families should be able to hold on to them confidently as they climb up or go down the steps.
Other important parts of your property that the inspection should cover include appliances and the HVAC systems, as well as the presence (or absence) of critical equipment that protects your property, such as carbon monoxide detectors, fire extinguishers, ground fault circuit interrupters, and smoke alarms.
Compliance with building codes.
The State of California is known to be prone to earthquakes, given the complex network of fault lines underneath it and its location on the boundary of two colliding tectonic plates. This is why building codes for the state are strict to ensure that structures here remain stable in any degree of tremors, from minor quakes to The Big One. Seismic safety, therefore, is one thing that home inspectors are bound to look at.
For a better idea of the things home inspectors look at for compliance, here are examples of building codes in California and San Diego County:
- California Building Code. This covers statewide structural, fire, plumbing, electrical, and mechanical safety requirements.
- California Residential Code. Under the CBC, this section tackles requirements for single-family and multi-family homes.
- California Green Building Standards Code. For new construction or renovations, this lists down measures for energy efficiency and sustainability. This is why most homes for sale in the state already have built-in smart technology.
- Uniform Building Code. Older versions of this code may apply to structures in San Diego County that have been built before 1994.
Note that laws about negligence and resulting damages in California are usually on the side of the injured party. The homeowner will immediately be accused of violating the building code and the law will rule in the injured party’s favor. It is these liabilities that a home inspection can protect you – the homeowner – from.
HOME INSPECTION BENEFITS
Listed below are the benefits of a pre-listing home inspection:
Make the repairs work for you instead of against you.
It is standard operating procedure to disclose the true condition of your home prior to putting it back on the market. You leave it in the buyer’s hands to determine if they are willing to take your home despite its issues at the price you dictated.
The home inspection report will allow you to address these challenges head-on and even enable you to come out as the winner in the negotiation game. Doing the major structural repairs will allay the buyer’s concerns about your house. Doing the minor repairs that the buyer can do on their own will also protect you from lowball offers.
The sale can also happen more quickly.
Yes, your buyer will want to do their own home inspection. But knowing that you covered all the bases will make you confident that they won’t find any unhappy surprises. Your assurances to them that they are buying a viable premium property will also be more assertive and self-assured (as opposed to being hesitant and apologetic). Your confidence can go a long way in removing any doubts from the buyer’s mind, prompting them to close the deal at the soonest.
Increase the price in your listing.
Positive changes you make in your home can transform it and make it even more attractive to buyers. Sturdier walls, well-painted roofs, cleaner grounds, and safer security systems, to name a few – these can give the impression that the buyer is getting a well-maintained property instead of one that has gone through a lot of wear and tear. For your endeavors, you gain more leverage to raise your asking price.
PREPARING FOR THE HOME INSPECTION
You, too, have your own part to play in helping the inspector do their duty to come up with a detailed report. The more thorough and accurate their report is, the more they can guide you, and the more you can increase the premium on your property.
Here’s what to do before the schedule for home inspection comes.
Ensure open access to all the areas they have to inspect.
The inspector needs free rein in your property, especially important areas like the basement, the electrical system, and the roof, to name a few. Remove all obstacles that may prevent them from conducting their work smoothly. Inspectors who can’t get into certain areas will note them down in the report. As a result, the buyer who reads the report will have more questions and, possibly, qualms about the property.
Clean the house from top to bottom.
To give the inspector good visuals of your home, make sure to remove trash or overgrown plants from your grounds or exterior. Don’t forget to also check your roof to remove broken tiles and debris from the eaves to your rain gutters. Wipe away the line of ants that frequent your sink and dust off the cobwebs on the corners of your ceiling, as well.
Make sure utilities are in optimal condition and functioning properly.
Your water systems should not have any leaks. Take a good look at the areas below your sinks, surrounding your faucets and bathtubs, and the handles of your showers. Your toilet should also flush without any trouble. Do the same with your lighting system. Replace burnt-out bulbs. Your fuse box should be in working order and labeled properly. The pilot lights in your water heater and fireplace should also be turned on, especially if you haven’t used them for some time.
WHAT TO DO AFTER A HOME INSPECTION
The inspection is finally over. The report is in your hands. A copy has been sent to your prospective buyers. If you have done your homework, there is little to worry about.
However, a few surprises might come your way – especially those that you cannot see with your own two eyes. And, even if the inspector gives you a glowing report, the buyer might still want to have a few more repairs as a condition for buying the house. Another unexpected scenario is that the buyer’s inspection report gives a different evaluation from the one made by your home inspector. In cases like these, you should:
Keep a cool head and evaluate the two inspection reports objectively.
Remember that your goal is to close the deal without having to spend a lot more than you already have. Despite their differing reports, the two home inspectors you and the buyer hired separately are professionals who can be trusted to give unbiased, accurate reporting. Find the commonality where their reports intersect. Ask questions to address anything unclear. In cases of major disputes arising from the conflicting reports, you might need to engage a third party to develop a more grounded evaluation.
Consent to make more repairs if they are reasonable.
If the buyer wants more paint on a window for cosmetic (and not utilitarian) purposes and the cost of doing so won’t cost you an arm and a leg, then agreeing to do it may close the deal more quickly. You can also offer a barter: let the buyer have your old oak desk that they’re eyeing – the one that you could easily part with – if it means that they’ll accede to absorbing the repair costs.
Organize your documentation.
Aside from the inspection report, keep an organized and clear file of everything that is related to the prospective sale, especially those concerning repairs and any renovation. Summarize all the renovations and maintenance work that you have done to improve your home even before listing. Make sure that each item in your list has its corresponding cost. Your buyers will appreciate your transparency and integrity. The records will also help answer their questions about your pricing and how you arrived at it.
GET MORE HOME-SELLING TIPS FROM THE EXPERTS
Taking the initiative to get a pre-listing home inspection is just one of the many approaches you can use to effectively sell your home fast and for the best price. For more home-selling negotiation strategies that will benefit you most, there’s one team of real estate experts from the North County region of San Diego County who can give you what you need: Sean Caddell & Associates.
Our team focuses on luxury real estate, coastal luxury, and equestrian real estate. We equip our clients in all aspects of the selling process, from teaching them home-selling negotiation strategies to showing them the benefits of a pre-listing home inspection. So, whether you’re buying or selling a house in areas like Rancho Santa Fe, Del Mar, or Cardiff-by-the-Sea in Encinitas, you can rely on our extensive network of industry professionals, supported by cutting-edge technology and resources, to ensure success in your transaction.
We stand ready to be your partner in your home-selling journey. Call us at 858.472.1074 or email us here.