Seller's inspection program

Home inspections have always been driven by a buyer. When done this way, unfortunately, the homeowner usually receives a list of repairs and inflated estimates from the buyer. This order of process has always caused frustration for all parties, including the agents. If the order is reversed, and the seller initiated the inspection, then repairs and the costs are more controlled and acceptable. The repairs can happen without a buyer, making the agent's work more efficient.

Why isn't this reversal happening more quickly?

• Lack of inspector marketing
  It's easy to get calls, but looking for them is another thing. For this to work, you have to be the pioneer and go after this segment, with a plan!
• Agents are unaware of the marketing power of their listings being pre-inspected
  If I were an agent, I would require all my listings to have a seller's inspection. Other agents with buyers would then know that my listings are not going to have surprises typically associated with a home inspection, and we just need to agree on the price! It will also validate the asking price, or help the owner to realize that repairs need to be performed, or the price needs to be lowered. Or, as an agent, I am going to limit my time with this listing if the inspection reveals problems and the seller doesn't want to address them or lower his price.
• The seller or homeowner thinks that nothing major is wrong with the home
  As an inspector, I have heard a seller say that "I have lived here for 15 years and nothing is wrong with my home." Many home owners do not realize the many areas they have never seen before could have problems (attic, chimneys, under floor spaces, wiring, water intrusion, etc.). But times are changing, and sellers that said no to a seller's inspection before, have since had one when the buyer came along and ordered an inspection. These buyers are now becoming sellers again and realize what a home inspection can do and how the timing of it can affect the price.

What are the benefits for the inspector to go after the seller's market?

• The economy says it's time
  Sellers are many and buyers are few. Many times the sellers are competing with homes for sale on the same street and in the same neighborhood. In order for a listing to “stand out” among a saturated market, it needs to catch the buyer’s attention. The two most popular ways to do that is price and value. In order to determine the price, one must look at the value first. Here is where a home inspection performed now can justify its price and give value to the inspected home on that street or neighborhood.
• The seller's inspection program positions you upstream from the rest of the inspectors
  The home inspector who performs a seller's inspection immediately cuts-off his competitor before the competitor has a chance to be considered to inspect that home. It's true that some buyers will still elect to have their own inspection, which is good for the home inspection industry. Still, most buyers over time will trust the seller's inspector because of the integrity and thoroughness of his or her report. It's like the fisherman on opening day who knew which hole was stocked full of trout. He was upstream from the rest of the fisherman, and filled his creel to the limit while the fisherman downstream from him competed against the others for the remaining trout.
  
• Agents need help understanding this program and it affords you the ability to help them while helping you build relationships
  Get more info on working with agents and see a sample marketing letter.
• With HomeGauge Services you can make the report a selling tool by uploading the report and making it public. Email the report link to the seller and agent and suggest to them to place the link on their home's web listing.

Read more on these benefits and see a sample web listing with link.