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Tips for Home Buyers

As a homebuyer, we want to make sure that you get the most out of your home inspections. Here are some quick tips for home inspections for buyers:

• Attend the Inspection: Attending the home inspection is a good way to see the issues firsthand and get explanations about causes and possible solutions.

• Come Prepared: Write down any specific concerns about the property and/or questions to ask the inspector.

• Check Property Disclosures: Review the seller’s property disclosures before the inspection. Make sure to inform the inspector so that they can inspect those items specifically.

• Let the inspector work: Try to avoid unnecessary interruptions to the inspector so that they can focus and provide you with a thorough home inspection report.

• Ask questions at the end: Make sure to ask any questions that you have before the inspector leaves.

Getting a quality Home Inspection is an essential part of purchasing a home. This key part of the process of purchasing a home should never be overlooked as it can be the difference between a great purchase and a bad decision.

Our home inspections are an all-encompassing test of the condition of your home. We check all of the major systems of the home, test all of the appliances, and report on the general condition of the property. Because the purchase of a new home is such a significant decision it is essential that you use the home inspection to detect any costly repairs that may need to be made and to find out the true condition of the home. In the northern Michigan are, many homes are decades old and have had multiple owners or tenants so you want to keep that in mind.

If you are concerned about the foundation, we can help. We have deep experience examining and assessing the many foundation types found here in the area and providing guidance on issues we may find. We have found through our foundation inspections that most homes in the area have some cracking in the foundation but not all cracking means you shouldn’t buy a home or you have to undertake a major foundation repair work. Let one of our experienced foundation inspectors take a look and give you some insight.

Termite Inspections are also recommended as it is focused specifically on wood-destroying pests and goes beyond the surface to find problems. Termite inspection reports also include pricing if any wood-destroying pests have been identified. The work order will have pricing for the eradication of the pests plus the repair of any wood damage they have caused.

Plumbing, roofing, wiring, and insulation issues can all be detected by one of our certified home inspectors and this can save you hundreds if not thousands of dollars on repairs. At Third Coast Inspections we are in the business of not only saving you money but also helping you feel confident about your purchase and settling you into your new home in norther Michigan.

Tips for Home Sellers

Home inspections for Sellers or pre-listing inspections can help you understand any deficiencies that might affect your purchase price.

Selling your home can be stressful and the last thing you want is surprises. Surprises can negatively affect your transaction.

Below are some tips that can help you get prepared for your home inspection and avoid receiving a home inspection report that is full of basic maintenance issues. We hope that these lists help you sell your home quickly and with the least amount of hassle.

Here are some quick tips we recommend for your pre-listing inspection:

Before Inspection Day

Exterior

Clean debris from roof coverings, gutters, downspouts, and drains
Re-caulk exterior windows and doors
Repair any damaged masonry on walkways or steps
Repair any minor defects on the exterior surfaces
Replace any missing or damaged shingles on the roof
Seal driveway cracks

Interior

Repair leaking faucets and fixtures
Repair cracked and broken window panes
Have chimneys cleaned
Have a licensed electrician inspect receptacles and switches, then make any necessary repairs. Make sure to have GFCI outlets installed within 6′ of any water source
Re-caulk around bathtubs and sinks
Arrange service for your HVAC unit
Replace batteries in smoke and carbon monoxide detectors
Loosen any windows that are painted shut
Make sure all doors and windows open and shut smoothly

Disclosures and Warranties

Disclose any past fires, floods, moisture intrusion events and major repair work
Provide any building permits or plans for past or planned renovations
Provide invoices and warranties for any major improvements, such as, roofs, furnaces, hot water heaters, and appliances

Inspection Day

If the buyer will be present, we recommend that you be away from the house for the duration of the inspection
Clear entrances to any crawlspaces, attics, basements, storage sheds, or garage
Clear pathways to the furnace, water heater, and air conditioner
Provide keys for any locked doors
Keep any pets in a safe location or remove them from the property if nece

Tips for Listing Agents

Home inspections are a key part of most real estate transactions, whether buying or selling. As a real estate agent, it’s important to understand how to navigate this process, which can help your clients get the most out of their home inspection. In fact, quality pre-listing home inspections can provide a smoother sales process with fewer headaches and stress. These inspections can help you get maintenance performed before the property hits the MLS and you have offers coming in while preserving your negotiating position.

Listing agents can play an important role in helping their client prepare their homes to go on the market. Staging and cosmetic improvements may come top of mind in terms of creating additional perceived value for the home. This is normal. However, sellers should also consider preparing their homes for the home inspection.

The results of pre-listing home inspections can affect the transaction by giving buyers the opportunity to use the issues located in the inspection report as leverage to negotiate a lower purchase price. And, in some cases, the deal may fall apart because of some of the findings in the home inspection.

Listing agents can help mitigate the need for these negotiations by helping your seller get prepared for a successful home inspection. By helping your client get prepared for the home inspection, you can help them avoid the headaches that can come from unexpected surprises.

So, aside from the cosmetic improvements and staging that you are planning, here are some other items to consider:

Safety Hazards

Test all Smoke Detectors, replacing batteries if necessary
Test or install CO Detectors. Make sure that one is present in between the kitchen and the bedrooms
Look for any electrical issues: GFCI outlets installed within 6′ of a water source, electrical outlets without covers, open junction boxes
Look for any mold-like substances and repair as possible
Look for any Trip Hazards on walking surfaces, interior or exterior, as well as steps and handrails
Open and close all windows in the property as they are a form of egress in case of emergency

Other Issues

Check for ceiling stains as they can indicate current or previous water damage issues
Check for leaky faucets, slow drains, and running toilets
Look for, repair, and paint any rotting exterior wood. This can alert you to signs of wood-destroying pests or structural damage prior to listing

Making repairs and getting those items cleared out of your home inspections report is a crucial step before uploading the report to the MLS.

With Third Coast Inspections, we provide you with several ways to get your home inspection report cleared. Make sure to speak with our customer service team when you book your home inspections. They can provide you with the details necessary to list the property with as clean a report as possible.

Tips for Buyers Agents

Detailed and thorough home inspections can help provide your buyer with confidence that they need to move forward, maintenance tips, provide leverage during the negotiations, and avoid costly legal issues after the transaction is completed. Smart realtors use home inspections as a protective tool.

As a real estate agent, it’s important to understand how to navigate this process, which can help your clients get the most out of the home inspection. It can also help build trust between agents and their clients.

When it comes to buyer’s home inspections, one of the primary roles that you can play is in educating your buyer about the importance of getting an inspection.

This includes some of the following items:

Explaining the home inspection process and why it’s important
Setting expectations for your client
Helping your buyer understand the results of the home inspection report (don’t focus on the trivial)
Please DO attend the inspection
Please DO convey any specific issues you are aware of from the disclosures to the inspector so that they may take a deeper look
Please DON’T invite too many people to the inspection as this can be a distraction and cause items to be missed

In summary, a positive home inspection will pave the way for a smoother closing. Home inspections provide your clients with valuable knowledge and give your clients a chance to have the key issues noted in the report repaired. And in the end, your client will appreciate having a full understanding of the condition of their new home.