Date Published: 09/22/2020 [Source]
Home Inspections. Here's where the trouble can start, unless you've done the work up front. I taught a course on showing homes once a month for 15 years at Weichert University. The home inspection process actually starts at the time of showing a house. Show the good, the bad and the ugly. If the good out ways out the bad, the buyer will accept it. But if the bad is a surprise after an offer is made and accepted, deals can fall through.
I had a couple from Texas buying here in New Jersey. I previewed the first and second floor of a beautiful 3600' colonial less than three years old. The price was great. As soon as we drove up to the house, they loved it. Loved the two-story entrance, two-story family room, the upscale kitchen. We ran up the stairs, and they were equally Impressed with the second floor. It was a steal!
All was going great until I got the radon report. Yes, the house had a high level of radon. This was another surprise. I called the buyer and said that I had good news and bad news. "The bad news is you've got radon gas in the basement. The good news is that it can be remediated, so that you never have to worry about any gas staying in the basement again." They are still living in the home today.
A good agent will be at every inspection, be it for the seller or the buyer they represent.