What you don't see can cost you dollars in your home sale.
We all believe we truly "see" what we are looking at (at least most of the time). It is no secret (especially among police detectives and attorneys ) that seeing things with our own eyes does not mean we actually "see" or remember the details. Read the few lines below and you will understand how your mind can help and hinder you by fooling your eyes. Then we will talk about why a home inspection BEFORE you listyour house can possibly get you the best price in a buyer's market.
Aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it deson't mttaer in waht odrer the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoatnt tnihg is taht the frist and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit a porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae the haumn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe.
Logically the paragraph above should be unreadable. However our brains will fill in details if we have the beginning and end of a word and the correct first and last letter are in place. Seeing our own home in the same light as a professional home inspector sees it may come as a shock. Think of the professional home inspection as a spell check for your home's condition.
Living in your home and actually viewing it as a homeowner and seeing it as a home buyer will see it are two entirely different things. Harsch Associates Berkshire Real Estate recommends strongly that you consider having your home inspected by a professional home inspector before you talk about selling. The home inspection does not eliminate all risk the seller/buyer may face in a real estate transaction but it does reduce that risk considerably.
A professional home inspection will include inspecting the structure of the home, the electrical system, the plumbing system, the heating/cooling system, bathrooms, interior, exterior, roofing, insulation and appliances. To assure that the inspection is as complete as possible the homeowner should ask for a radon inspection, water quality inspection, a well stress test, carbon monoxide testing, and possibly infrared testing for insulation and roof leakage. Home inspectors in Massachusetts must be certified by the state. Advanced continuing education assures that a professional home inspector's knowledge is current with home building codes.
A professional home inspection gives the seller a precise clear picture of the issues the home has prior to placing it on the market. Many of these issues can be taken care of prior to listing the property. Unknown issues found during a home inspection after the buyer has made an offer can become cause for withdrawing the offer. Providing a copy of the home inspection and subsequent repairs to a qualified buyer will go a long way toward developing trust in the transaction. Your Realtor® can provide you with a list of certified home inspectors in your area. Konw waht the byuer is sneeig and svae yuoslerf a lot of hassle in your next real estate transaction!