While it is up to the home buyer to pay for and arrange a home inspection, and any buyer in their right mind is going to do this, sellers can prepare for a smoother closing by considering specialized inspections ahead of time. And, while in McCall most home inspectors are “expert generalists” they do know when to call in the specialists. By bringing in the experts beforehand, savvy sellers are ahead of the game with no surprises at the final hour.
If your home is newer, i.e. less than a decade old, some pre-inspections can be skipped. Check out this list to see what may apply to your home.
- Pests. In addition to mice and other critters, these inspections are focused on identifying evidence of wood destroying organisms like carpenter ants and termites and the damage they may have caused. This inspection will also turn up other issues that can affect a home such as fungi caused dry rot, flooding issues and other moisture problems.
- Asbestos and Lead. Although banned in 1975 and 1978 respectively, these two culprits can quickly halt the sale of your house. By being proactive you can tackle this problem ahead of time to show a clean bill of health for your older home.
- Roof and Foundation. Both roof and foundation repairs can be spendy and will most likely cause a certain amount of stress if issues are revealed during an inspection. But, again, it is better to be aware of and prepared for dealing with these issues ahead of a closing.
- Electrical. If you are in an older home or one that has undergone any amount of remodeling or renovation, think about bringing in a licensed electrician to certify that your home is up to code and current safety standards.
- Chimney. Here in beautiful McCall, most homes will have a fireplace or woodstove and the condition of your chimney or stovepipe should be a priority for any buyer. Not only should you have the chimney professionally cleaned before selling your home, consider hiring an inspector that follows the National Fire Protection Agency’s chimney inspection codes.
- Mold. As far as health hazards go, this one is on every home buyers’ list. A good mold inspector will test for spores throughout your home, including areas you don’t access very often such as the crawl space, walls and attic. As a seller, you cannot afford to ignore mold growth and must mitigate any mold issues before listing your home.
- Trees. Tree care, including removal, is surprisingly costly and something most buyers won’t want to contend with. Many lots are heavily treed in McCall making this inspection a priority. A professional arborist can determine if there are any potential hazards or signs of disease or decay. Buyers will certainly appreciate having this inspection done ahead of time and being provided with inspection results.
- Well and Septic. Many homes in the McCall area use well and septic systems for drinking water and sanitation. Inspections of wells focus on gallons per minute production and the safety of the drinking water while septic inspections focus on making sure the tanks and lines moving the waste water away from the home are functioning properly.
Keep in mind that in most states, Idaho included, sellers are required to disclose all known defects to a buyer. However, being prepared with these pre-inspections will potentially help you sell faster and for more money.
