Welcome to “At Home With Heidi & Sandy.” We are here to give you the inside scoop on real estate and the construction industry: what’s up, what’s down, what’s hot and what’s not. We’ll share real estate stats, home prices, building permit numbers, lending information, construction pointers and give you hints on renovations that will give you a return on your investment. There is plenty going on in the real estate industry and the construction industry and we want to share some fantastic, cool, groovy and helpful information with you. We are going to use our insight and local expertise to help you save time, money and overcome obstacles of all kinds. So, settle in and enjoy.
SANDY: As education and awareness for our readers, Heidi and I feel it is important to talk about home inspections – the ins and outs and what homeowners should know about the procedure. Speaking from the construction side, a home inspection is a vital part of the home buying process.
HEIDI: And speaking from my view as a realtor, I would agree that a home inspection is vital to buying a home. Home inspections can save buyers and sellers time and money in the long run. Home inspections are meant to help homebuyers make an informed decision about the property they are buying. Understand that no property is perfect; there are different concerns and issues with every home.
SANDY: Homeowners have begun to recognize the benefits of having their property inspected to ensure the home is safe, maintained to best advantage and sheltered from unexpected and costly future repairs. Home inspections formulate for the client a true picture of the property and how best to preserve the integrity of a home’s foundation, structure and systems. Home inspectors focus on structural components and essential operating systems of the home, while also identifying potential safety and maintenance issues. The home inspector’s punch list covers more than 400 items. Criteria are set forth in the Standards of Professional Practice for Arizona Home Inspectors and guidance from the Arizona State Board of Technical Registration.
HEIDI: For sellers, a pre-listing inspection can be the competitive edge to obtaining the maximum selling price for a home by providing buyers with peace of mind. It gives the seller an idea of what the buyer may find objectionable and provides the seller time to shop ahead for qualified contractors to repair problems before the home goes on market or the buyer discovers them in the buyer’s own pre-purchase inspection.
HEIDI: The Due Diligence section of the Arizona Residential Real Estate Purchase Contract recommends a home inspection within a specified window of time after contract acceptance, unless the buyer waives that right. Buyers’ agents generally are strong supporters of home inspections for all properties, including new builds.
SANDY: I see quite often that the number one reason buyers cancel a purchase contract is how they feel about what is discovered during a home inspection.
HEIDI: You are right, Sandy. Some buyers just walk away instead of asking for repairs or negotiating another solution, such as monetary compensation at close of escrow. Buyers also worry, if a significant number of repairs are advised, that the home they wish to purchase may be a problem waiting to happen due to inattention by current or previous owners. Home buyers know that a pre-purchase home inspection will enable them to make an informed buying decision and will protect their largest investment.
SANDY: Well-done inspection reports are a combination of honey-do list and owner’s manual. A good inspection report will tell you where the gas and water values are, where the furnace filter is, information on special or unique features in the home, areas that may require special attention or maintenance and so on.
HEIDI: Following the detailed analysis of the property by the inspector, we advise buyers to walk through a property with the inspector to review the inspection report and ask questions. Discussion with the unbiased home inspector can help clients understand the concerns, identify the seriousness of any situations noted and the reasons for repairs recommended in the inspection report.
HEIDI: It is important to know that home inspectors will take the time to do the job right and spend time with you at the home, clearly explaining the findings, giving you real answers that can help you make the right decision. They understand how important a real estate purchase is to you.
SANDY: One advantage to home inspection at any time and for every reason is the independent third-party nature of the inspector. Home inspectors are unbiased and neutral and their job is to report what they observe on a home at a specific moment in time.
SANDY: It is important to know that home inspectors are not permitted to repair or otherwise work on any home they have inspected. Additionally, they are prohibited from recommending individuals to perform repairs – with the exception of pest inspectors.
HEIDI: It is also important to know that if there are any serious issues discovered, buyers can work with their real estate agent to request more information from the sellers and/or they can even call in their own specialists for a more detailed evaluation. Once repairs have been completed, the home inspector may be re-engaged – again, as an independent third party – to return to the home and ensure that the repairs have been properly executed.
SANDY: Pricing for a home inspection varies depending on size, age and location of the home. Home inspectors, as in every profession, have different experience levels. Consumers are advised to make sure that their home inspector can provide valid recommendations and brings to the task hands-on experience in the construction trade. QCBN
By Heidi Marshall and Sandy Griffis
Thanks for stopping in “At Home with Heidi and Sandy.”
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Heidi Marshall, Associate Broker, SRES, ABR, CFS, Realtor with Windermere, 928-830-2320.
Sandy Griffis, Executive Director, Yavapai County Contractors Association. 928-778-0040.
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