“The real estate market is hot!” might just be the biggest understatement of the year.

February statistics from National Association of Realtors indicate there was an average of 4 offers for every home sold and homes typically sold in 20 days nationwide. Buyers are feeling pressure to move faster and forgo contingencies in their offer. One contingency is the home inspection. This is an important part of the process; a buyer should have a good understanding of what they are purchasing! A professional home inspection is worth every penny and there is no substitute – but there are ways a buyer can make the most use of their time.

When a buyer views a home, they typically look at aesthetics (layout, paint colors, fixtures, finishes etc). The time you spend looking at a home, however, should also include a look at potential trouble spots and areas that are expensive to repair.

I always suggest a “top down” approach. Inside the home, look at the ceiling (water damage? stains?), walls (cracks?), and floor (level? broken?). You can do the same on the outside of the home. Look at the roof (missing shingles?), windows (broken glass? wood rot?), siding (broken? buckling?) and foundation (cracks? standing water?). This approach helps the buyer identify potential areas of repair before they make an offer, and you can share this info with your home inspector so they know which areas you are most concerned about.

For more details on what to look for during a showing, check out Punchlist’s suggestions.

Remember, buying a home is a process but you don’t have to do it alone. Let’s chat.

-Jennifer