Sell your home more quickly, more easily, and for more money with a Pre-listing inspection.
Seller's (Pre-Listing) Home Inspection
Reduce the chances of your home sale falling apart by having a pre-listing home inspection.
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Have you considered getting a home inspection before you list your house on the market? If your answer is no, you may miss out on getting more money for your home. Not to mention making the sale of your home go as smoothly and quickly as possible. Few people realize the benefits of having a pre-listing home inspection.
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Benefits of pre-listing inspections:
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You will understand the condition of your home
A home inspection provides valuable insight into the condition of your property, allowing you to set an appropriate price for your home. You can choose to make the necessary repairs to maximize your selling price, or you may opt to disclose any existing issues upfront without investing more money into the home.
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You can make the repairs needed
If the home inspector identifies any major issues, you will have the time to address them yourself without the pressure of a contract. When you are ready to list your property, you can feel confident that you have resolved any significant problems, giving you the opportunity to sell your home at full price.
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Reduce stress, minimize the chance of negotiations and close quicker
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Selling a home can be stressful, but you can reduce that stress by addressing any repairs or disclosing potential issues to buyers before they conduct a home inspection. Buyers often use the inspection as a bargaining tool to negotiate a lower price or request additional repairs. If you have already taken care of repairs or provided full disclosure about the home's condition, it's less likely that the buyer will come back with demands that could delay or jeopardize the sale.
What's Included in All Standard Home Inspections?
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All of our home inspectors are proud members of InterNACHI, the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors and WAHI, Wisconsin Association of Home Inspectors. We abide by the WAHI Code of Ethics, as well as the Wisconsin Standards of Practice, which sets forth the minimum requirements for a home inspection. The list below incorporates the Wisconsin Standards of Practice, but also incorporates part of the Northwoods Property Inspections list of Best Practices for a home inspection.
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Roofs
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Roof coverings, including type.
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Roof drainage systems.
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Flashings.
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Skylights, chimneys and roof penetrations.
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Signs of leaks or abnormal condensation on building components.
Exterior
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Wall claddings, including type.
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Flashings and trim.
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Entryway doors and at least one window per side of a dwelling unit.
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Garage door operators, including whether any garage door operator automatically reverses or stops when meeting reasonable resistance during closing.
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Decks, balconies, stoops, steps and porches including railings.
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Eaves, soffits and fascias.
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Grading, drainage, driveways, patios, walkways, and retaining walls that abut the dwelling unit.
Foundation and Structure
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Foundation walls
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Crawl spaces
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Floor structure (posts, beams, joists, etc.)
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Signs of basement moisture / water intrusion are always a concern for buyers, and we always inspect for this. We use moisture meters to check for elevated moisture levels when they’re suspected.
Electrical
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Service entrance conductors.
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Service equipment, grounding equipment, main over current device.
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Main and distribution panels, including their location.
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Amperage and voltage ratings of the service, including whether service type is overhead or underground.
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Branch circuit conductors, their over current devices, and the compatibility of their ampacities and voltages, including any aluminum branch circuit wiring.
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The operation of a representative number of installed lighting fixtures, switches and receptacles located inside the house, garage and any exterior walls.
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The polarity and grounding of all receptacles within 6 feet of interior plumbing fixtures, in the garage or carport, and on the exterior of inspected structures.
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The operation of ground fault circuit interrupters.
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The functionality of the power sources for smoke detectors.
Plumbing
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Interior water supply and distribution system, including piping materials, supports, fixtures, faucets, functional flow and drainage, leaks and cross connections.
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Interior drain, waste and vent system, including traps, drain, waste, and vent piping, piping supports and leaks.
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Hot water systems, including water heating equipment, normal operating controls, automatic safety controls, and the exterior surfaces of chimneys, flues, and vents.
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Fuel storage and distribution systems, including interior fuel storage equipment, supply piping, venting, supports and leaks.
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Sump pumps.
Heating
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Heating equipment and distribution systems.
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Normal operating controls and energy source.
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Automatic safety controls.
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Exterior surfaces of chimneys, flues and vents.
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Solid fuel heating devices.
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The presence of an installed heat source in each room.
Cooling
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Cooling and air handling equipment, including type and energy source.
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Normal operating controls.
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The presence of an installed cooling source in each room.
Interior
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Walls, ceilings and floors.
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Steps, stairways, balconies and railings.
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Counters and all sink base cabinets.
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A random sample of doors and windows.
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Separation walls, ceilings, and doors between a dwelling unit and an attached garage or another dwelling unit.
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Signs of water penetration into the building or signs of abnormal or harmful condensation on building components.
Insulation and Ventilation
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The presence or absence of insulation in unfinished spaces.
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Ventilation of attics and foundation areas.
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Kitchen, bathroom, and laundry venting systems.
Garage
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Overhead doors
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Garage door openers
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All of the other stuff that most folks would probably expect; doors, stairs, walls, floor, electrical, etc.
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