Realtor Kyle Boehme works with HomeTeam Inspection Service to ensure that sellers can eliminate red flags and avoid unhappy surprises during the home selling process.
In today’s super-charged sellers’ market, homeowners who are thinking of putting their houses on the market might think they can bypass the pre-sale home inspection. But according to Kyle Boehme, a Realtor with Rogers Healy and Associates in Dallas-Fort Worth, getting a home inspected prior to selling is crucial.
Boehme, who’s been working with HomeTeam Inspection Service Owner Dale Lockamy for the past seven years, says it’s important that sellers have advance knowledge about the state of their homes before putting them on the market. “I’m very confident in HomeTeam’s ability to advise my sellers on the work that needs to be done to their home in order to put it on the market with confidence,” he said. “It’s an important step that makes the entire selling process go smoothly and helps breed confidence on both ends of the transaction.”
Boehme lists five reasons why sellers should always get a home inspection before putting their homes on the market.
Pre-Sale Inspections Help Sellers Eliminate Red Flags
Even seemingly small, deferred routine maintenance items can raise red flags for potential buyers, who might go one step further and assume there are larger problems in the home. “An inspection doesn’t just alert homeowners about serious issues, it also serves as a reminder to clean out the gutters, check smoke detectors, change air filters and fix dripping faucets,” Boehme said. “These little tuneups won’t break the bank. Instead, they will provide sellers with confidence as they place their home on the market.”
Pre-Sale Inspections Allow Sellers and Their Agents To Speak With Authority About the Condition of Their Home
Following a home inspection, homeowners receive a detailed report that speaks to the age and expected lifetime of things like hot water heaters, dishwashers and crucially — their HVAC systems. “Especially in markets like Dallas, buyers will want to know about the condition of the HVAC system,” Boehme said. “HomeTeam inspectors walk homeowners through their inspection report step-by-step to ensure that owners fully understand all of the information included in the report. Having that kind of knowledge about their home and its current condition instills a sense of confidence in the homeowner as they navigate the selling process.”
Pre-Sale Inspections Allow Sellers To Avoid Unhappy Surprises and Fix Serious Problems in Advance
According to Boehme, homeowners often aren’t aware of serious problems in their homes until they go through the buyer inspection. At that point, they’re under pressure to make fast changes or drop the price of the home. “With home repair workers in high demand, homeowners don’t want to scramble to find someone when their home is on the market,” he said. “It’s always better to take care of repairs in your own time. Among other things, it allows you to do your research to ensure that you’re getting the best price, product and contractor.”
Pre-Sale Inspections Pave the Way for Seamless Buyer Inspections
In today’s hot market, everyone is anxious to keep the process moving as quickly as possible in order to close the deal. A quality pre-sale inspection means much of the work has already been done, ensuring the buyers’ inspection will be a seamless one. “If you’ve already proven your home is in top quality condition, that will go a long way towards easing any concerns the buyer and their inspector may have as you near the closing,” Boehme said.
Pre-Sale Inspections Mean More Money for the Seller
While buyers are paying top dollar for homes right now — often well above list prices — they expect a home that’s turnkey ready without deferred maintenance items, said Boehme. “If buyers are paying a premium, they’re going to expect that as a seller, you’re going to take care of the main components of the house,” he said. “Ultimately, getting your home in the best shape possible prior to putting it on the market ensures that you can get top dollar and feel confident about your home's worth.”
For Boehme, a quality home inspection is key to a successful sale. “I love how HomeTeam always sends two inspectors to every appointment,” he said. “Having two different sets of eyes on the home and throughout the entire inspection is a huge value add that brings a level of comfort for agents, sellers and buyers. On top of it, they’re very professional and accessible. In this market especially, you have to get the inspection done as quickly as possible.”
For more information about HomeTeam Inspection Service, visit http://www.hometeam.com.
