Home Buying or Selling 101 isn’t rocket science. But it is a thoughtful process with crucial steps to follow. The one essential step that protects you and helps you make an informed decision involves hiring a home inspector.

Your home is the biggest investment you’ll make in your lifetime. A qualified inspector can be your important ally in the home buying or selling process. He or she can educate you on the condition of the home you wish to purchase or sell.

According to the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI), a certified inspector provides an objective visual examination of the home’s physical structure and systems. ASHI says that the standard home inspection covers: the home’s heating system; central air conditioning system; interior plumbing and electrical systems; the roof, attic and visible insulation; walls, ceilings, floors, windows and doors; the foundation, basement and structural components. There may be a need for an energy audit, a mold inspection and of course a termite inspection.

For home owners considering selling, maintenance should be at the top of your list prior to putting your home on the market. ASHI’s maintenance inspection can help you check everything from the foundation, roof and gutters, to a home’s exterior and interior walls, electrical wiring and plumbing. The ASHI maintenance checklist, a list of items in the home that should be maintained annually or by season, is available by contacting a local ASHI Certified Inspector (located through a database on ASHI’s Web site). The ASHI’s Standards of Practice and Code of Ethics outline what you should expect to be covered in your home inspection report, and these are available on the ASHI website.

There is a careful inspection timeline in Arizona, during which the buyer conducts an inspection and provides a report to the seller in writing. Then, the seller either responds on how issues identified in the inspection will be corrected, or decides to not remedy the issues presented. Ultimately, the buyer accepts the seller’s response or rejects it and cancels the contract.

We can help you do your due diligence and walk you through the process. Contact Ron Park and learn how to purchase or sell your home with confidence.