Whether buying or selling a home in Scottsdale, AZ, a thorough home inspection is a critical part of the process. The home inspector can identify any structural damage or safety issues in your home. The inspection results provide a snapshot of the building’s quality and help you identify the problems that must be fixed before the sale.
Any unfavorable outcome in the home inspection could shatter your plans to sell a house fast in Scottsdale, AZ. There’s nothing worse than a deal falling at the last minute due to a failed home inspection. As a home seller, it’s a good idea to try and sort out any potential home inspection issues ahead of time.
But what sort of issues are problematic? We’ve put together some common problems that fail a home inspection and share tips to get them sorted.
1. Roofing Troubles
The inspector will climb the roof and look for crumbling, curling, or missing shingles. If the roof is broken beyond repair, the inspector might suggest a complete replacement.
Fix: Hire roofing professionals to do regular inspections and fix the roof before it gets poorly damaged.
2. Weakened Foundation
If you notice large cracks on your walls or horizontal cracks on the foundation, it could indicate foundation troubles. Sometimes even tree roots and improper construction could damage the foundation.
Fix: Ensure that you review foundation issues quickly to avoid the avalanche effect of other related problems. Contact a structural engineer to assess the damage and decide how to fix it.
3. Rodent Infestations
No buyer wants to buy a home with a horde of pests. Besides hygiene issues, rats, mice, termites, and raccoons can cause structural damage.
Fix: Connect with a pest control company to eradicate the pest infestation.
4. Low Water Pressure
A home inspector will test the water pressure by turning on all plumbing fixtures. Too low or too high water pressure can cause your home to fail the inspection test.
Fix: Hire a plumber to see how you can fix the issue. Look for corroded pipes, clogged aerators, or low-diameter piping and replace them.
5. Poor Attic Insulation
The home inspector checks the attic to see if it’s adequately insulated. The general permissible levels of insulation are between 10 to 14 inches.
Fix: Get a professional to replace the insulation.
6. Electrical issues
Exposed light bulbs, ungrounded receptacles, faulty electrical systems, malfunctioning outlets, and circuit breakers all cause your home to fail inspection.
Fix: Ensure that you upgrade electrical receptacles to three-prong outlets and cover all outdoor outlets with bubble covers. You can also upgrade your lighting to energy-efficient LED bulbs.
7. Rotting Wood
Rotten wood in window sills and underneath the decking can lead to structural damage. Home inspectors use an awl to check wooden structures in your home to inspect if any rot is present.
Fix: If you notice wood rotting, you can get a contractor to remove it and replace it with freshly treated wood.
What Happens If Your Home Inspection Fails?
You could contact your realtor for advice. They’ll help you review the report and present you with an action plan.
As a seller, you have the following options:
- Fix the repairs
- Offer sellers a discount on the selling price, which they can use for repairs
- Sell the home as-is to a cash home buyer in Scottsdale, AZ without any repairs
- Provide the buyer with a one-year home warranty to cover common repairs
Remember that if you decide not to undergo any repairs and the buyer backs out of the sale, you are legally obligated to disclose the findings before listing the house on the market. So, a cash sale is better if you plan to sell without any repairs.