Posts from June 21st, 2026

One of the things I have learned over the years is that most inspection reports do not fall apart because of one giant problem. Certainly, every once in a while an inspector discovers a major structural concern, significant water intrusion, or an expensive system that has reached the end of its life. More often, however, inspection reports become intimidating because they contain pages and pages of smaller items that have accumulated over time. None of them seem particularly important by themselves, but when a buyer receives a report filled with photographs, arrows, comments, and recommendations, it can create the impression that the house has not been maintained.

That is one of the reasons I spend so much time talking with sellers before a home ever goes on the market. I am not looking for perfection. I have never listed a perfect house, and I do not expect to. What I am looking for are the little thing...

Click Here to Read More...

When I recommend a pre-listing inspection to a seller, the first questions are usually not about the cost of the inspection itself. Most sellers want to know what happens if the inspection finds something serious and whether they will be required to disclose what is found. Those are fair questions, and the answer is usually the same. If a significant issue exists, there is a very good chance a buyer's inspector is eventually going to discover it anyway. The difference is whether we learn about it before the home goes on the market or after a buyer is already under contract and emotionally invested in the transaction.

Over the years, I have become a strong believer in pre-listing inspections because I have watched too many transactions become unnecessarily stressful after an inspection report arrives. Contrary to what some people assume, I am not looking for perfection. I have never seen a perfect house and I...

Click Here to Read More...