You are best off repeating ‘home inspectors are our friends’

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Published Date 10/20/2023

Whether you’re a homebuyer or a seller, few appointments cause as much stomach acid as a home inspector. Apart from those of us who own fairly new homes, most of us don’t know what to expect from an intense scrutiny of our homes.

“A home inspector can make or break a sale for both sellers and buyers,” says Jamie Wiebe. “For sellers, it’s a stark reminder of the nagging issues you might have turned a blind eye to over the years. And for buyers, it’s a recipe for pure heartbreak—falling in love with a home that might just end up making no sense to buy.”

She advises, however, not to let the inspection stress you out. “Remember, that’s not what your home inspector wants either—all he or she wants is a comprehensive to-do list and a happy client.”

Wiebe says knowledge is key here and suggests forming a team with your home inspector to make the process easier and more effective.

First, make your home easy to inspect. Move your pets. Oh okay — your puppy is adorable—but even if your home inspector loves dogs or cats, pets running underfoot makes the job much more difficult. They want to be able to open exterior doors again and again, and the idea that it might offer a pet far too many opportunities to dash to freedom is worrying to them. “When you leave the premises for the inspection—and many inspectors ask sellers to do so—take your pets with you. Please,” says Wiebe.

While you need not scrub your house from top to bottom, it is best to clean up beforehand. We’re talking clutter-cleaning, not scouring. “It makes a huge difference when I walk into a house where everything’s put away,” one home inspector Wiebe consulted with explains. “It’s a game changer not just for me, but for the home buyer.” He also relates that if he has to dig through items to reveal what he is inspecting, it can sour his experience.

Face it. Your house will have some problems. “Your home inspector will likely come up with a seemingly endless list of problems after the walk-through. Don’t panic!” says Wiebe. Your inspector wants to feel like he or she is on your side but will still want to judge the house fairly. While there are times when you should worry (stay tuned), not every issue is a dealbreaker, and your inspector will know which problems you should tackle first.

Nearly everything can be fixed. Okay. So things like mold, radon, and asbestos can sound frightening, but they are no scarier than a roof that needs replacing, home inspectors say. Alan Singer, a professional home inspector whose career sprung from the home building industry, says, “Everything is upgradable, fixable, or replaceable. You just need to have a list of what those things are.”

Of all the things to stress out about, it’s water. It’s important to address any water-related issues before the deal closes—or at least immediately afterward. We’re talking stains, puddles and leaky ceilings. Give special attention to the basement, as water intrusion in that part of your home can be an expensive and difficult proposition. Singer says. “A wet basement can be hard to fix.”

Home inspectors are not prognosticators, but can offer estimates on parts of your home’s shelf life. How many years does your roof have left? Your inspector might be able to give you a rough estimate, but he can’t give you a precise timeline. “People think that we as inspectors have a crystal ball,” Singer says. “Or that we have X-ray vision” to see through walls or examine the inner circuitry of your kitchen stove. We can’t tell you how long it will last. We can just tell you if it’s in good shape.”

“It’s easy to forget your love for the home when you’re counting the dollar signs and hours you might have to spend on repairs,” says Wiebe. “But just remember to take a deep breath, think rationally, and consider whether it’s a smart investment in your future.”

In the end, your inspector’s visit will simply provide a to-do list. Not everything needs fixing immediately, so don’t let a long list dampen your love for the home.

Realtor, TBWS

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