Sellers Inspections: Benefits & Rewards

Home inspections are most often associated with buyers, but those who choose to have a sellers inspection completed prior to or after listing their home can benefit extraordinarily with their time, purchase price, and stress. 

In short, a sellers inspection is one of the best examples for the cliche saying: "It takes money to make money."

At Home Fax™ Inspections, you always get our 100% satisfaction guarantee, 24 hour report turnaround time, pre and post inspection record checks, innovative and easy to understand reports, as well as supplemental information to help anyone Know the Home Before You Buy™. We adhere to the ASHI Standards of Practice, provide convenient online scheduling and payment tools and are fully licensed, bonded and insured within the State of Michigan.

Here’s how a sellers inspection from Home Fax™ Inspections can help you maximize your sale price as a seller:

• Schedule the inspection at your convenience and have the ability to assist the inspector during the inspection process, which is otherwise uncommon during a buyer’s inspection.
• Be alerted to any items of immediate concern ahead of time, instead of during the buy and sell process, lightening last-minute problems and negotiations.
• Pre-awareness allows you to correct issues beforehand, or price the home at a realistic asking price if problems do exist, helping you save time and money without risking a potential sale.
  • By correcting any issues beforehand, you can review the inspection report prior to being generated and have corrections made, which:
    • Ultimately may encourage buyers to waive the inspection contingency all together in your gesture of forthrightness 
    • Helps your home show better and sell at a higher price, especially when no major issues are identified during the inspection process.
    • Permits you to attach repair invoices to the report that may eliminate prospective buyer suspicions before they walk away without making an offer. 
    • Gives you more time to shop competitive bids and make repairs at the most reasonable price, all while eliminating over-inflated buyer estimates or demands.

• Even more, all Seller Inspections and Pre-Inspections have the option of being listed online at www.HomeFaxInspect.com, enhancing the marketing appeal and visibility of the listing!

No matter your position, there’s no better option than HomeFax™ Inspections! Visit www.HomeFaxInspect.com today to schedule your home inspection or check out our nationwide services at www.NationwideHomeFax.com.

Expectations v. Reality During a Home Inspection

A home inspection is a standard procedure during most home purchases, but many common expectations are met with misconceptions.

#1: A home inspection is a limited visual observation

Many buyers expect an inspector find hidden issues, sometimes discovered later on during the home tenure, such as issues within wall framing, footing drains, and other areas of the inspection that are not exposed. In reality, inspectors can only inspect what is visible and typically exposed. Good inspectors understand the cause-and-effect of one observation to a defect, or set of defects, but the reality is that no inspector can ever determine all of the defects that may exist within or around a home.

#2: A home inspection is not a code inspection

Home inspectors are not code inspectors. Codes vary by city, county, and state. Code inspectors, sometimes referred to as building inspectors, are employed within the city or county and are familiar with specific codes within their specific jurisdiction. Home inspectors are not required to know each city’s codes, which would be very difficult if not impossible, and therefore are not code inspectors. This does not mean your inspector is not a professional or expert. The responsibilities are not the same and buyers should understand that an inspector may not be able to speak to specific codes during an inspection.

#3: Not everything visible is required to be inspected.

Every buyer needs to understand the contingencies around what is not inspected during a standard home inspection. Home inspectors are trained to inspect and describe major systems and components of any home, but often do not include accessories and areas that are excluded from the Standards of Practice and expose the inspector to unnecessary risk. For example, window awnings, pools, furnace humidifiers, gazebos, well water and well depths, and other areas and components are not typically inspected. Buyers should fully understand the contingencies that apply to their inspection, as noted within the pre-inspection agreement.

Whether you are a buyer, seller, or agent let the professionals at Home Fax Inspections fulfill all of your home inspection and seller inspection needs by visiting our website or contacting us directly at 248-229-0945. God Bless!

Top 5 DIY Home Repairs

Home repairs are a common aspect of home ownership, while continuous maintenance will help to protect your most important investment. Although these words bring a mixture of feelings, and even detract some from interest in owning a home, often times they involve simple, easy tasks. Some see home repairs as a challenging adventure, and one best suited for a professional. Although this is sometimes true, many painting, plumbing, landscaping, and regular maintenance tasks are best handled by yourself. Others, though, immediately cringe, minds racing on the thought of all the work and money that will go into the task(s).

Truthfully, those who shy away from common maintenance and home repairs often develop their perspective based on a lack of understanding and education, something Home Fax™ Inspections & Nationwide Home Fax™ desires to help you with.

Check out this article on the Top 5 Home Repairs You Should Do Yourself and educate yourself, or fix your perspective, when it comes to home ownership maintenance, repairs and upkeep.

Home Staging & Decorating Impact for Buyers & Sellers

Buying a new home not only gives you the chance to make a sizable investment into your life & family, but also provides the chance to express your personal style through decorating. However, did you know that what seems like a great decorating choice may actually cause the room to look smaller than it is? Even the flow of the home may feel off.

This may not be costly to a new buyer, but every seller wants their home to sell fast and bring top dollar. No brainer, right? Well, did you know the way your home is decorated & staged may have a tremendous impact on the time and price point of the sale?

Don’t fall victim to home décor mistakes or poor staging -- watch this slide show to learn the top 10 home décor mistakes that make professional designers cringe & this how to stage a house article to increase your chance of success!

Resources like these help you put your best foot forward! 

Informed home buying decisions: Why everyone must Know the Home Before You Buy™

 "Decision making is complex. On our own, our tendency to yield to short-term temptations may be too strong for our rational, long-term planning." -- Peter Singer

The pattern of poor home buying decisions and horror stories of withering financial investments in property purchases never seizes to amaze us.  Whether it be the standpoint of the “unnecessary” expense of a home inspection, to the lack of research and informed decision making conducted prior to purchasing a property, to the economic disparity that leads to poor home maintenance -- more and more people continue to enter into poor home buying decisions. 

As a result, many poor home buying decisions have negatively impacted home sales and values, while increasing the rate of short-sales and foreclosures. The cost of this may be small or great, quickly encountered or experienced later, but one point is consistent for most people: the purchase of a property is one of, if not the largest investment you will make in your lifetime.  How many times will you spend $100k, $200k, or maybe even a $1,000,000 on any one purchase in your lifetime again? Not to mention, don’t we all want ourselves and our family to be happy, safe, and comfortable with the home we live and invest in?  

Let’s face the facts…

We’ve all heard of or experienced the horror story of a new home purchase, rental property, or new move.  Most people consider a home inspection through the process of purchasing a property, but many do not understand the various aspects of the Home, Homeowner, Neighborhood and Community which contribute to their overall long-term happiness, return on investment, and susceptibility of that purchase or lease agreement. 

Inadvertently as a result, poor home ownership decisions and a lack of informed decision making has fostered a higher demand for rental properties; currently averaging $904 per month nationwide. Prior homeowners, and many others, fear the idea of property ownership based on past mistakes, distorted views from TV shows and opinions, and financial struggles that have led them to few additional options other than rental tenancy. The fact of the matter is that many prior homeowners, young adults, and current tenants were never aware, or are still unaware of the options, assistance, and information services available to them.

Next week we will review the Home Fax™ Report options available to buyers, sellers, renters and investors for home purchases from Nationwide Home Fax™ and home inspections from Home Fax™ Inspections.  

4 Holiday Safety Tips & Touch-ups for Around the Home

Thanksgiving, Christmas and many other holidays bring families together for many reasons. Use these holiday safety tips and touch ups for around the home as you prepare for your special get-together.

#1: Test smoke detectors (or add if missing)

We all hear about the most common safety issue every year during each holiday, stove and gas fires. Check all existing smoke and carbon monoxide detectors (especially in the kitchen) on each floor of the home, replace any batteries, and add any alarms/detectors where not present already. If you have not already, consider replacing traditional smoke detectors with a smoke and carbon monoxide combination alarm.

#2: Fix or replace broken electrical outlet covers

Replacing any broken electrical outlets is a simple, cheap, and effective way to help keep your family safe. GFCI outlets should be present in all kitchens and bathrooms for over current protection and to help reduce the chance of shock hazards. 

Check along each interior room for any broken outlet plates, especially low areas in the home that are accessible to children. Having a screwdriver handy, tighten any loose plates, make note of which need to be replaced, and head out to your local hardware store!

#3: Clear any tripping hazards & add safety guards along fireplaces

As family and guests arrive, it’s easy to get caught up in all of your obligations that may result in overlooking simple safety risks, such as tripping hazards. By planning ahead, clearing space, adding safety guards along fireplace masonry, and even temporarily re-organizing high traffic areas, your home will become instantly safer. 

Add a shoe rack (permanently or temporarily) near the entrance door, pick up any electrical cords, Christmas lights or other items which may be tripping hazards. You never know, it may prevent an unnecessary trip to the emergency room.

#4: Check water and gas connections

The last thing any of us want to deal with on a busy holiday is fix broken items, or even worse, schedule an emergency repair. Leaks, backups, and clogs are more susceptible with higher traffic in areas, such as the restroom. 

Check and tighten any fixture connections, clear the P-trap, and scan your water heater and furnace. Don’t forget the basement connections...when’s the last time you checked those anyway?

Until next time, check out www.HomeFaxInspect.com and www.NationwideHomeFax.com and be sure to always Know the Home Before You Buy™

ThanksGivingBack at Home Fax Inspections & Nationwide Home Fax

The holidays are among us, and what a wonderful time they are! Many of us are fortunate enough to spend time with our families, celebrate the festivities, and have a warm home with a roof over our heads.

Unfortunately for some though, these times are filled with grief, disappointment, and a feelings of isolation. Residents of Flint, Michigan, for example, are just starting to receive clean drinking water, as their water has been contaminated with lead, yet these residents still pay for their water just as you or I do. 

The number of homeless individuals continues to rise in many areas and states, such as Detroit, Hawaii, Los Angeles, and New York City. Many others face constant persecution, hunger, poverty and more. Some are unemployed and not able to enjoy the time and festivities because of financial burdens, even forced to work through such times just to put food on the table for their family. The list goes on-and-on, people are in need all over the country and world.

Join Home Fax™ Inspections and Nationwide Home Fax™ in the 2nd annual ThanksGivingBack promotion to help families in need. Treat others the way you wish to be treated as Christ himself emphasizes, share the blessings you’ve received to help those in need, and keep these people and families in your thoughts and prayers.

As we journey into the holiday season and beyond, take time enjoying all that the holidays have in store for us, but let us remember our true purpose for why we’re here and help those who are not as fortunate to have the necessities we often take for granted. 

Join us next week as we discuss Holiday safety tips & touch ups for around the home! 

Who’s controlling the inspection process?

During the last segment we discussed some impact examples of a Seller’s Inspection process. In case you missed it, check it out here.

Here’s a real example of how controlling the inspection process effects everyone involved:

A buyer’s inspection was completed on a $160,000 home. ¾” separation gaps were observed along the foundation tuck point where the landscaping grade continuously directed water into the basement windows (which were not insulated and exposed). A broken downspout drainage extension in the same location was directing more water into the same area, causing mold to spread into the basement while penetrating the electrical wires for the control valve box.

Using the inspection report from Home Fax Inspections, the buyers negotiated $25,000 off the price, purchasing the home for $135,000. The buyers resolved the issue for less than $2,000 before taking possession of the home, 2 months later, saving them $23,000. 

Pretty good return on investment for the buyers who paid a $400 inspection price, wouldn’t you say?

Now as a seller or agent, you may be cringing. Why?

Not only did the seller lose out on $23,000 from the purchase price, since they could have made the same repairs for $2,000, but the time it took to close increased the sellers process by around 6 weeks. Since they were relocating, this increased their expense for temporary housing and travel, consumed enormous amounts of their time, and had no positive outcome for the seller who thought they were too busy, and wanted to save money, instead of having the same repairs completed themselves. 

If that was the end of the atrocity, it would be enough. But it wasn’t…

With a 3% commission, the buyer and seller agent each lost approximately $1,000 (or 25% of their total commission percentage) and invested hours, days, and weeks of additional time, potentially leading to the loss of additional sales or clients as a result.

Needless to say, a seller’s inspection would have saved enormous amounts of time, money, and hassle. Don’t wait until it’s too late to control the inspection process. Work smarter, not harder.