Home Inspections

: Home Inspection is Vital to Buyer and Seller

Saint George, Utah Home Inspectors do a Great Job

I have heard sellers of homes here in Saint George, Utah tell me that they are concerned about the buyer wanting to have their house inspected during the buyer's 'due diligence' period. Naturally, I ask them if they are afraid the inspector will find something about the home that will cause the buyer to back out of the deal, and most often the answer is "no". What they are really tired of by this point is waiting a long time for a decent offer that promises to get them out of the house and on their way to a new life somewhere else, and that the inspection is just another thorn in their side that causes consternation and grief.

While it is true that a home inspection CAN produce a result that ends up killing the deal, I dare say that the inspection process and report is good for both buyer and seller of our Saint George, Utah real estate. And, this statement holds true all across the country as well.

Have Your Realtor Here In Saint George, Utah Help Acquire a Good Home Inspector

For the buyer the purpose of a thorough home inspection before they make a final decision to purchase is obvious. This is a huge investment they are about to make, so it better be right the first time! Indeed, the Utah State Division of Real Estate cautions all potential buyers with the statement, "Buyer Beware". Just think how aweful it would be to invest hundreds of thousands of dollars in a home, and later discover a major problem with something like a gas furnace that emits carbon monoxide, or a concrete basement floor that floods when it rains, or some other problem that could result in huge dollars to repair later.

I even advise my buyers to have a brand new home inspected. In certain neighborhoods here in Saint George, Utah it is very important that a soils test is done to confirm 'shifting', and if so discovered there needs to be preparation of that building site with a unique combination of soil removal and the installation of 'piers' before the house is built. We call it "blue clay" here in Saint George, Utah, and if my buyer likes a house that is built on blue clay and it is not built on piers, I tell them to forget this one and go on to another home.

The point is clear and obvious when it comes to the worth of a home inspection for a buyer. But, what is the real value of a home inspection to the person selling the home? I think the answer is equally obvious.

Just think of what your life would like if you sold your house to someone who later discovered a 'material adverse defect' in that home, and there was no prior home inspection. Do you think that buyer would want to 'lawyer up' and come after you? Well, I have seen it happen way too many times for me to give you time to say 'no' to that one! This can happen even if your state does advise "Buyer Beware" and if your state assumes that buyers buy homes on an "as-is condition" premise. You know as well as I do that laws, and certainly assumptions, are challenged and beat very often in a court of law.

The point is, if a buyer of your home gets a home inspection, signs off on their due diligence, and heads to the closing and buys your home, you as the seller are leaving that property with a clean bill of sale. And, this 'insurance' didn't cost you as the seller anything — the buyer pays for the home inspection!

Sellers, don't be afraid of a home inspection. If you know beforehand of a material adverse defect, let your Realtor know up front. If you are a FSBO and are not represented by a real estate brokerage, tell your would-be buyer right away if you know of a defect, even if it might jeopordize your sale. Maybe you can work it out with your buyer, but expect to get sued later if you try to hide it

For more information on how home inspections work and who to contact in Saint George, Utah for professional home inspection needs, call Pat Lisi at 435-215-3090.