3 Ways to Address Common Issues in Home Inspections in Yakima

When you’re buying or selling a home, there are a lot of factors you have to consider, like price, location, and distance to the nearest grocery store, just to name a few. But what you may not realize is that the condition of your home—and how well it’s been maintained over the years—can have a huge impact on its value.

In this blog post, we’ll go over what to look for during an inspection and why it’s so important. We’ll also outline common issues we’ve seen crop up during an inspection process (and how to handle them). 

1. Follow Through on the Process

You’ve put an offer on a home, it was accepted, and you’ve popped the champs—but what comes next? The inspection. We don’t want to make you nervous about this process because we’ve seen things go right, but we’ve also seen things go sideways, and we want to help you avoid those situations! Remember, no house is perfect; there is always something, even on new construction. 

The process generally goes like this: 

• The buyer books an inspector
• The buyer’s agent, buyer, and inspector go to the home for an inspection
• They receive the inspector’s report (20-30 pages of pictures and items is normal)
• Based on the inspection findings, the buyers can ask the seller for repair items or credits. 

When things go right, the seller and buyer agree to items or credits due to repairs, and all parties are happy and move to closing. But things can go sideways when you’re a seller and the inspector finds significant issues. This can cause buyers to back out. Also, the deal falls apart if the buyer and seller can’t agree on repairs. Huge problems can even make you come off the market if it is items that need to be addressed now and are hazardous or current issues. 

What happens if you decide to forgo an inspection? You may end up with a property riddled with expensive repairs and no recourse. Paying for a professional inspection is the best way to protect yourself and your investment.

2. Be Aware of Problem Areas

An inspector has a detailed checklist of all the areas they inspect, but here are some of the main areas they will cover.

Buyers

• Structural components (walls, ceilings, floors)
• Windows and doors 
• Electrical systems (outlets, switches, panels) 
• Plumbing systems (pipes, fixtures, water heater) 
• HVAC systems (heating, ventilation, air conditioning)  
• Insulation and ventilation 
• Appliances (kitchen, laundry)
• Attic and crawlspace 

Sellers

Here are the areas you should address before the inspection occurs for easy access. 

• Cleaning and decluttering
• Easy access to all areas 
• Repairing minor issues
• Disclosures

3. Work with the Best in the Business 

We love recommending the best in the business to our clients. Here are the two go-to inspectors that we’ve seen do excellent work: 

• Ryan Franke with Integrity Inspections 
• Zac Withers with Intermountain Inspections 

Whether you’re ready to sell or buy, we’re here to give you a seamless experience. Reach out to us anytime. We’d love to help!

Until next time,

Mal & Joel