Selling Your Home? Know the Value of a Structural Inspection
Spring is in the air – a joyous time for so many reasons, including longer days, warmer weather, and this year we may be close to the end of the COVID crisis. It is also what many consider to be the optimal season for residential sales. If you are thinking about putting your home-sweet-home on the market, you should seriously consider having a structural inspection done before listing. The benefits are many, but be sure to avoid unexpected surprises and last-minute emergencies that could doom a potential sale and cause a major disruption in the selling process.
A structural inspection – sometimes called an engineering inspection – is a professional opinion and evaluation of your home's structural condition and integrity. It includes a walkthrough in and around the house to uncover any signs of settlement, wood rot, water intrusion, or any other issues that need to be addressed and could cause a buyer’s home inspection to go south. If warranted, the inspector will then move the evaluation into the crawl space or basement to assess the necessary solutions to repair the home.
The best news is that structural inspections only take about 30-45 minutes and are free of charge. If repairs are deemed necessary, you will receive a detailed report and proposed scope of work with pictures and drawings. A good rule of thumb is to schedule your structural inspection about 6 – 8 weeks before listing your home.
The following are five things you can do on your own to help the structural inspection go more smoothly.
Before the inspector arrives, make sure you have thoroughly cleaned all your gutters.
Remove any debris and/or trash you might have in your crawl space.
If you have a vapor barrier in good condition but is a little messy, take time to tidy it up. Straighten the barrier to cover the ground within your crawl space completely.
If you have a sump pump, run a test to check that it is properly working.
You may also want to purchase an RH monitor (usually under $20) to test your humidity levels and ensure you do not have a high moisture problem.
Some may avoid a structural inspection using the “I’m afraid what we might find” excuse. The reality is whatever issues you are afraid of ultimately will be uncovered anyway. It’s not a question of if, but more of a question of when. A structural inspection allows you to be in control and determine the best plan of action before another party gets involved. It is a smart move for smart home sellers who want to present their property in the best possible light to ensure top-dollar offers.