Home Inspectors Can Save You Money

You have a plan for your retirement, a plan for your next vacation – do you have a plan for your home’s maintenance? Our Home is a place of refuge for our quiet enjoyment, a place to raise our family and to entertain guests. The more we know about its condition, the better we can learn how to maintain it in good condition, lest it falls into disrepair and decay.

When I first started my career in Real Estate in the mid-70s, home inspectors were not commonly used. I started using home inspectors with my first investor client in 1977. In Arizona, home sellers must fill out a disclosure form, Residential Seller’s Property Disclosure Statement (SPDS). For the residential buyer, it works in conjunction with the Residential Buyer’s Inspection Notice and Seller’s Response (BINSR). There is a five-day inspection period.

“Now, Zak, I’m not planning on selling my home anytime soon. Why would I want to pay a fee to a home inspector?”

There’s an old saying, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. We are all busy living life, working, and hopefully enjoying our free time or working at a side gig. Getting an objective look at our home’s condition, the plumbing, HVAC, electrical, roof, etc., is like getting a physical exam for your house. The benefits are that you can find potential problems before the maintenance and repairs become expensive and can be resolved before it becomes an emergency situation. Why wait until the AC goes out in the middle of summer or the water heater leaks flooding the garage?

We then can do the handyman thing, or schedule a pro to handle the major components. We can also get bids and ask questions about the quality or the materials and workmanship before it becomes and emergency.

What should you look for in a Home Inspector?

Home Inspectors are Licensed in Arizona. Inspections can include: sewer scoping, pool and spa inspections, mold testing, all major systems: electrical, plumbing, mechanical which is the heating and air conditioning HVAC, roof.

The Inspector I use provides a 360 degree virtual tour of the home with a written report and a cost estimate of repairs if needed.

What if I am planning on selling my home?

Sellers can get even more of an advantage in today’s market by having the inspection done before or when they list their home. We can usually arrange to have the inspection completed within a couple of days after the listing agreement is signed by the seller. A pre-listing home inspection can help to maximize the selling price, create buyer trust through transparency and get the BINSR signed by the Buyer and Seller with fewer surprises.

The more you know about your home’s condition, the better you can learn how to maintain it in good condition, save money on upkeep, utilities, know in advance the cost of maintaining the major components, and prevent needing to do repairs in an emergency. This leads to peace of mind, and should your plans change and you need to sell your home, less stress and less repair costs which result in a larger settlement check.

Zak Klemmer, Realtor with United Real Estate Specialists
www.zakklemmer.com