BUYERS AND SELLERS

Buyers and Sellers: Understanding How Home Inspections are Negotiation Tools

That stunning home or vacation property may seem perfect. But Top Agents advise anyone buying or selling to prioritize the importance of professional home inspections.

For sellers, many agents recommend preparing for two separate inspections, one for your own information before listing and the second at the buyer’s obligation. For buyers, know that the listing agent is required to disclose certain major issues discovered on professional inspection. But every buyer should also order a thorough home inspection. For both buyers and sellers, inspection provides knowledge and knowledge may translate to power, time saved or money.

THE SELLER’S INSPECTION You’ll save time before closing if you find potential “sticking points” before listing your home. Even those repairs that a seller isn’t required to fix may be worth the upfront investment. Replacing or repairing leaky faucets, wornbut-not-compromised sections of roofing or cosmetic masonry work will go a long way to build trust between you and buyers in your market. In addition, the last thing a seller wants right before closing is a major surprise. If your inspection uncovers a significant issue requiring disclosure, you’ll have an opportunity either to make repairs or to get professional estimates on cost, which you then can present to buyers either as a credit or reduction in sale price.

THE BUYER’S INSPECTION Selecting your Inspector: Before hiring an inspector, your agent may ask if the seller conducted an inspection and who conducted it. With this knowledge, you’ll hire a different inspector. Consider some important factors when choosing your home inspector: First, remember the adage that “you get what you pay for.” This property is one of your biggest investments it’s the place you’re going to cherish as your home or vacation destination for years to come. Entrust it to a highly rated and properly licensed inspector with the appropriate professional affiliations and credentials. Your Top Agent is your best referral source, but read online reviews or ask for recommendations to learn more about inspectors and the inspection process.

As a buyer, know that a home inspection report gives you opportunities to request repairs, a lower sale price or credit for work to be done. Talk to your agent about how to make the most of your inspection report. Your agent will likely have contacts with local professionals you can consult with for fair estimates on the cost of the repairs you would like made. In extremely competitive markets however, your negotiating power may be limited to major issues requiring disclosure. Heed the advice of your agent in making necessary requests without risk of losing your dream home.

Be sure to attend the inspection or assign a proxy if you’re out of the area. Then, go above and beyond and give a luxury property the attention it deserves. Your inspector should help you find concealed issues that can help you negotiate. Honest oversights on the part of the seller, for instance can only be rectified if discovered before closing. For example, clogged exterior drainage inadvertently concealed by hardscape may become a flooding issue down the road. On the flip side, recent partial-room painting may indicate something more than the seller’s beautification efforts.

HOW SERIOUS IS IT? Remember that a home inspection is one of the most useful items in the buyer’s toolkit, but be careful not to get overwhelmed by the results. Prioritize issues by immediacy (safety) and break down each category by cost to repair to determine how the issues may impact negotiations.

ERIC TUTSCH

Top Agent Eric Tutsch – of C3 Real Estate Solutions in Fort Collins, Colorado – is a hardworking, dedicated Realtor® who is deeply committed to providing his many grateful clients with exceptional customer service. Eric’s success has been built on a solid foundation of honesty and integrity, and it continues to grow year after year as more and more of his buyers and sellers refer him to family and friends.

Eric began his journey in real estate four years ago, following a long stint in the remodeling business. “My wife and I were living in Wisconsin,” he recalls, “and when it came time for us to have our first child, I began looking for a job that provided a better work/ life balance. I was working constantly in order to make a decent living, and I wasn’t home that much. That’s when I decided I needed a change.” Having visited his mother-in-law who lived in Colorado, Eric and his wife had an affinity for the area, and they decided to move to the Centennial State. “It was a fresh start for us, and I had no sphere of influence, so I just put my faith in God that it was the right choice for us.”

Eric signed on with C3 Real Estate Solutions and quickly overcame his broker’s doubts about his potential for success, and rapidly built an ever-growing business with his fierce work ethic and true empathy for his many buyers and sellers. Currently, nearly the entirety of his considerable business is based upon returning clients and referrals, a sure indicator of the top-of-the-line service he provides. “When I bought my first home,” he recalls, “I had an agent who didn’t provide very good service at all, and it’s my goal to make sure no one else goes through that kind of experience. So, I keep my clients informed throughout the entire process, and I’m incredibly responsive to them.”

“I always try to make my clients feel as comfortable as possible,” says Eric. “Many of my clients become friends, and I work hard to stay in touch with them long after the transaction is complete, just to make sure their needs are being handled. I treat everyone as if they’re a friend rather than just a transaction.”

There are many other factors that come into play when assessing Eric’s ascension in the real estate industry, including his personable nature, his expert negotiation skills and his thorough and intelligent approach to marketing his listings. All of this, combined, translates into fast sales for top dollar, not to mention happy clients.

When he’s not working, Eric enjoys nothing more than spending time with his wife and two daughters, and is an avid outdoorsman who enjoys hunting, fishing, and simply enjoying the scenic beauty Colorado has to offer.

Looking to the future, Eric’s plans include continuing to grow his business and to keep offering the go-above-and-beyond service that has quickly become his calling card. “A real estate transaction is probably one of the largest deals someone is going to make in their lifetime,” he explains, “and I just get a lot of satisfaction out of being able to help someone through that.”

For more information about Eric Tutsch, please call 970-689-7766 or email ETutsch@c3-re.com

DANIELA SARDO

When Daniela Sardo was young, she would ride her bicycle to a nearby neighborhood where custom homes were being built. Looking at these homes planted a seed of interest in real estate and home ownership within her. That seed would manifest itself slowly over the course of her life as an adult. When Daniela first became involved with real estate part-time, she was juggling her budding career along with a Master’s degree and a separate full-time job. She would find, however, an incomparable joy in guiding people along the path to home ownership, and move into building a vastly successful career as a full-time Realtor.

Daniela’s primary goal as a Realtor is to get her clients into the home of their dreams. She is willing to work outside of her job description to make this happen. “I go above and beyond,” she says. “I had my neighbor tell me, ‘you are the only Realtor I know who would do the things you do.’” From painting houses to pointing people towards the right resources for the Down Payment Assistance and other aid programs, Daniela truly does it all.

Daniela works so hard to get her clients where they want to be because she genuinely cares about them. “I really try to help people get past any barriers that they have to home ownership. Without a doubt, my favorite part of my job is helping people achieve that. There is nothing that feeds my soul more than listening to people tell the story of their incredible accomplishment after closing. It feels good to help people reach this massive milestone in their life.” Daniela’s clients can see and feel how much she cares. Over her career, she has built a vast sphere of influence including clients both past and present, and her business is currently 100% referral-based. People appreciate Daniela’s devotion to the cause of their success, which makes it a no-brainer for them to return to her services and refer her to their friends and family.

Daniela knows real estate like the back of her hand, having gained a wealth of experience as a Realtor over the last decade. Her advertising is exceptional – she does everything from high-end, professional photography to 3D Matterport tours to make her homes look the best they can be – allowing her to cast a wide net to reach as many different people as possible. Daniela currently closes 35 transactions per year. Her immense success can be attributed to great marketing, an intimate familiarity with current market trends, and her generous spirit with which she serves her clients to the fullest extent.

As an independent broker, Daniela currently serves the state of Oregon. She plans to continue to build her sphere and her database day by day, and to reach out to as many people as possible in the coming years. If you’re in need of real estate service in the Oregon, don’t hesitate to contact Daniela Sardo today!

For more about Daniela Sardo, please call (503) 310-9127, email daniela@lovebuysellhomes.com, or visit www.danielasardo.com for more information