Categories Home Inspection, Home safety

For Sellers: You’ve Had a Home Inspection, Now What?

You’ve heard time and time again WHY getting a home inspection is important and helpful. But do you know what to do once it’s over?

 

Whether you’re buying or selling a home, making sense of an inspection report can be challenging.

 

The big questions come in for the sellers: Do you need to fix everything? Do you HAVE to? Where do I begin?

 

These are all common questions that homeowners have after receiving their inspection report. And while there is no definite answer, we’ll try to shed some light today.

 

Before getting started, we want to address the importance of required repairs. First of all, typically sellers must repair any health or safety-related issues. While every state has its own laws and requirements regarding safety issues, these are the common areas that must be addressed.

 

 

Health and Safety-Related Repairs That Sellers Must Do After The Inspection

 

  • Significant water damage
  • Missing smoke detectors
  • Mold issues
  • Structural damage
  • Building code violations

 

Both parties have rights in this situation. The buyer has the right to ask the seller to fix the issues uncovered in the inspection. Or they can then negotiate a lower price.

 

Whereas if you, as the seller, do not agree with the report, you have the right to hire your own licensed inspector to perform an inspection as well.

 

When it comes to cosmetic repairs, i.e. broken door handles or the normal wear and tear, you generally aren’t required to fix them. However, be sure that you are fully aware of your required repairs in the contract before signing.

 

 

Sellers Must Decide to Continue Or Not

 

As a seller, once you receive the inspection report and the list of the buyer’s requested items to be fixed, you have two choices:

 

  • Fix the items
  • Discontinue the sale of the home

 

You must decide which is best for you and your situation.

 

But remember that if you discontinue the sale and new buyers come along, you are legally bound to share the previous inspection report with the new buyers. The cycle will likely not end and you will continue to incur more costs.

 

 

Negotiation Is Possible

 

You also have the opportunity to negotiate.

 

It’s possible that some of the requested repairs could become shared expenses.

 

There are some reasonable requests for shared expenses, like a water heater. If you didn’t promise a home with a brand-new water heater and the buyer didn’t expect to go 15 years without replacing it, it’s possible to discuss splitting the costs.

 

Keep in mind that an average repair could be between $500 and $5,000.

 

If this or major repairs (like a roof replacement) are not possible with your budget, don’t sweat it.

 

In this case you should simply note the age and condition in the property disclosure and reflect the repair need in the asking price or offer a repair credit at closing. By being upfront and asking a fair price, buyers won’t accuse you of being suspicious.

 

 

When you’re selling your home, the first impression is your only impression.

 

So get ahead of any issues and save yourself from being blindsided by getting a seller’s inspection. If you have any questions about the inspection process (before, during, and after) we’d be happy to speak with you!

 

Schedule an appointment here or get in touch with one of our home inspection experts today!

 

We Can Help

 

 

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Categories Home Maintenance, Home Technology

Three Common Smart Home Technology Issues and Their Solutions

While having a smart home may feel like a thing of the future, it’s actually quite common. And the trend is expected to grow in coming years. Not convinced? Take a look at these facts:

According to SmartHomeUSA, a “smart home” is “a residence that has appliances, lighting, heating, air conditioning, TVs, computers, entertainment audio & video systems, security, and camera systems that are capable of communicating with one another and can be controlled remotely by a time schedule, from any room in the home, as well as remotely from any location in the world by phone or internet.”

Smart homes are possible in new home construction as well as in existing homes that are receiving upgrades. So, whichever category you fall into, you should be aware of some common issues and how to tackle them.

Let your smart home work for you rather than against you by staying on top of these problems:

1. Integrated Technology

When it comes to choosing smart home tech appliances, you have lots of options. But the problem is that many manufacturers don’t want to make their products compatible with products coming from other companies.

This can lead to having multiple apps or controllers just to have all products communicating.

 

The solution: plan out the functions you want, the hardware you will need, or look for a smart home hub package and voilà!

 

2. Battery Drains Quickly

What’s the point of having nifty wireless smart devices, if you have to perform a lot of upkeep?

Many smart home products, like door sensors, are low-energy and will only require battery changes once or twice a year.

However, cameras and motion sensors will need lots of energy to get the job done.

 

The solution: go through the settings and turn off features you never use, since they drain the battery. And be sure your devices are in a good WiFi signal range. If they’re constantly searching for signal, they’ll die more quickly.

 

3. Poor Internet

Smart home products need reliable two-way communication over the Internet (meaning fast download and upload speeds).

The most common example is a doorbell camera. This is because they need good two-way communication to send messages between the person at the door and the person receiving the message.

 

The solution: you may need to look into upgrading your Internet or changing providers.

 

Chances are, if you’re looking at modern homes (or wanting to update your existing property), you’ll run into smart home technology. Whether it’s a safety feature or an energy saving technique, problems can arise. Knowing the common issues and how to solve them can save you a lot of time.

 

Do you have any smart home technology in your house? What would you add to our list?

What would you like to use? We want to hear from you in the comments!

 

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Categories Home Inspection, Home safety

Being Proactive: Pool Safety Tips for Every Summer

Having a pool is great! They’re fun, they give you a place for friends and family to gather, and they can add some serious value to your property. With that being said, they do require upkeep. And if you’re a parent or pet owner, you know the great responsibility you have to enforce and monitor pool safety.

 

The American Red Cross released their findings that about 4,000 people die of unintentional drownings each year, with children having the highest risk. In addition to NEVER leaving your child unattended in a pool, you must keep it clean for sanitary and health reasons.

 

Along with these, there are many other reasons pool safety should be your top priority.

 

Keeping Your Loved Ones Safe and Healthy In and Around the Pool

1. Use a Pool Cover

You have tons of options here and can even get one custom made to fit your pool’s measurements.

 

Pool covers are great because you can add an extra level of security plus you’re keeping debris out of your pool. This adds up to less maintenance!

 

 

2. Keep Water Clean and Clear

Regularly checking pool chemicals via weekly testing can help prevent any rashes, skin irritations, or burning eyes.

 

 

3. Update Drain Covers

If you have an older pool or spa, you should replace drain covers to ones that are anti-entrapment; and the same goes for homeowners installing new pools.

 

 

4. Security Systems

Alarms aren’t just for your home; there are tons of options for security systems.

 

You can get underwater motion sensors that use a sonar grid to alert you of any motion beneath the surface.

 

You can also get a small alarm for your pool gate that will sound if left open for a few seconds. These are both great options for families with young children.

 

 

5. Non-Slip Surfaces

The area around your pool and spa can be made safer with the right surfaces. With so much water everywhere, its no shock that slips can happen.

 

 

6. Pet-Proof Pool Time

While all of the above steps can apply to our beloved furry friends, there are a few more things you can do: like buying a pet life vest, read up on pet CPR, and adding a fence around the pool.

 

 

Possible Issues You Can Have with Your Pool

Another part of pool safety is having a well maintained and functional pool. There are signs that show potential pool problems. Some things to look out for include:

 

  • Pool Leaks: Any place where you have plumbing, you have the possibility of a leak. If you find that you’re constantly needing to add fresh water, then you likely have a leak.

 

  • Liner Wear: In general, pool liners should be replaced every 8-12 years. If you see cracks, fading, stains, or wrinkles, then your liner has suffered damage and you will need a professional to check it out.

 

  • Need for Frequent Cleaning: If you are having to clean your filter more than once a month, there is a problem. This could be a problem with the water quality or another issue that an expert will need to determine.

 

 

Pools are a big investment and a big responsibility, and should be treated as such. If you want to ensure that your investment and family is safe, let a pro take control.

 

Our pool experts at EIG will do a thorough check of the condition of a swimming pool and/or spa to ensure that the mechanics, components, electrical parts and surrounding areas are up to safety standards and operating properly. We’ll also check that the pool remains free of bacteria, viruses and algae that can pose health risks.

 

To schedule your inspection today, check out our easy, online scheduling tool!

We Can Help

 

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Categories Home Inspection

Knock Your Pre-List Inspection Out of the Park

If you’re about to sell your home, getting a pre-listing inspection could do you wonders! Many people wrongly assume home inspections only benefit buyers, but they can also help sellers.

A pre-listing inspection can make a property more attractive to potential buyers and help you identify any major issues well before the negotiations begin.

Simply put, pre-listing inspections are a smart investment and could protect your bank account!

 

What Is a Pre-listing Inspection?

Much like a buyer’s inspection, a pre-listing inspection’s goal is to review the home and provide a written report about the state of the home. Having one can allow you to negotiate from a position of power and knowledge as you will truly know your home’s worth.

After a pre-listing inspection, you can address the problems found or let prospective buyers know about them upfront. Hence the goal is never to take the findings and hide them from prospects.

Now that you have a clear idea of what pre-listing inspections are, let’s talk about how you can ace yours and make your selling process that much easier!

 

Keys For A Successful Pre-listing Inspection

  • Open everything: Well, not everything, but certainly make sure doors, windows, and gates are accessible. You don’t want to lock your inspector out!

 

  • Turn on the lights: Replace any burnt out bulbs, and address light fixtures before we arrive; this will make the inspection run smoothly.

 

  • De-clutter: If you were a little late on your spring cleaning, now is the time to catch up. Make sure all critical areas are accessible—this includes water heater, furnace, AC units, and attics.

 

  • Check under the sink: We’ll have to get in there to look for leaks or moisture damage, so please clean up those areas before we arrive.

 

  • Address landscape issues: Take a look at your yard and make sure it’s tidy, trees are trimmed, fallen branches are cleared, etc.

 

  • Test monitors: Have a look at your smoke detectors and carbon monoxide monitors to ensure they’re in working order.

 

  • Get documents ready: If you have regular maintenance done (like changing furnace filters), or have had a roof repair, have this info ready for us. Side note: this documentation will also be useful for potential buyers!

 

  • Schedule a playdate: If you want to stick around for the inspection, no problem! But we recommend taking children and pets out of the home for the duration of the inspection.

 

  • Leave utilities connected: Even if it’s a vacant home, we’ll be checking your stove, washing machine, AC, etc. If utilities are turned off we won’t be able to complete the inspection and will need to reschedule.

 

  • Leave keys: We’ll need access to outbuildings and electrical boxes; so if you have keys for that please have them handy.

 

Before scheduling your inspection, take a day to get things in order. Not only will it make our job easier, but it will allow the entire inspection to run much more smoothly and give us the best look at your home.

If you’d like to go the extra mile, we recommend making a list of all known flaws before we arrive. For example, cracks in a window or a broken light fixture; no matter how big or small the issue, let us know at the beginning!

 

Ready for a professional pre-list inspection? Schedule yours here with our easy online tool!

We Can Help

 

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Categories Foundation Repair, Home safety

Home Safety: Foundation Issues Explained

The average homeowner is no expert when it comes to home repairs or even identifying potential issues within a home. Therefore we want to shine a light on your home’s foundation.

Many people think they only need their foundation inspected when selling or buying a home. But for something so integral and essential to your home, it’s a good idea to pay more attention to it.

Foundational issues can be hard to catch if you don’t know what to look for. Check out a few signs that we talked about in one of our earlier posts.

Read on for more information about foundation inspections, common problems, and what to expect.

When You Need a Foundation Inspection

There will be some red flags that indicate the need for a professional inspection, including:

  • Worn out walls (cracks, splitting, bulging, or uneven walls)
  • Roof problems such as water stains
  • Poor grading allowing water to stand near the home
  • Utility issues like electrical abnormalities or plumbing leaks
  • Chimney is separating from the structure of the home

Each of these aspects are all signs of a failing foundation and should not be taken lightly. If you fear that one of these issues may be contributing to a bigger problem in your home, don’t hesitate to call in the pros!

 

What to Expect from Foundation Inspections

These inspections are very in depth and will last about 1.5 hours. They include an interview in which we learn about the timeline of any damages as well as any concerns or abnormalities you may have noticed.

We will follow up with visual observations of the interior, exterior, and surrounding terrain.

If you’re still concerned that you may not be receiving factual data and a concrete answer about the state of your home’s foundation, don’t worry!

At EIG we utilize the latest technology, Zip Level Pro-2000, which allows us to give you the peace of mind that we will find out the exact condition your foundation is in.

Check out one of our sample reports here to get an idea of what you’ll be receiving.

 

What Can Happen to Your Foundation

You already know how important your home’s foundation is to the structure and functionality of your home.

However, if you’re still thinking of putting off the inspection and treatment, you should know that untreated foundation issues can lead to HUGE bills and headaches in the long run.

Besides exorbitant costs and long-term repairs, living in a home with foundation issues is a huge safety concern.

The cause and effect of many of these issues can bring on many other issues such as: mold, erosion, and major structural damage, which all make your home a dangerous living environment.

 

To ensure you and your loved ones are safe, keep a close eye on the common issues that arise when foundations have problems. Or you can rest easy with a professional opinion!

Schedule your inspection today with our easy online scheduling tool, and let one of our expert team members determine the state of your foundation.

 

 

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