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How Has the Coronavirus Changed the Way Home Inspections Work?

Published on August 19, 2020by cultivation

Did you know that of all the industries that took a hit during COVID-19, home inspections wasn’t one of them? According to the American Society of Home Inspectors, home inspections are essential for real estate transactions. By not doing a home inspection, buyers could find themselves in a mess due to things like termites, improper wiring, cracked foundations, and much more - all of which will be an additional expense down the road! As a result of stay-at-home mandates throughout the country, trying to have a home inspection is going to be different now, thanks to COVID-19. But, how?  1. Clean and disinfect As a seller, you probably know that you need to keep your house clean, especially if you want to sell your home fast in Nashville, TN. However, for the safety of your household and the home inspector, use disinfectant to wipe down high-touch items such as doorknobs, light switches, counters, and the like.  And, although the home inspector probably will have their own PPE, sellers may want to have hand sanitizer, face masks, gloves, disinfectant wipes, and antibacterial soap on hand just in case.  2. Buyers need-not attend In most cases, buyers will attend the home inspection where they’ll be able to ask questions about certain things. They may want to go so they know exactly what will be in the report and get the inspector’s recommendations on how to address the issue.  However, since COVID has rocked the nation, buyers are asked to stay home to minimize the risk of infection for everyone involved. Home inspectors are third-party professionals who will look at the home objectively and unbiased. That means you can trust the report because the inspector has nothing to gain one way or another.  3. Postponed or canceled inspections A delay in having a home inspection done isn’t always a deal-breaker, especially during the pandemic. Buyers and sellers are aware of possible delays due to things outside of their control. Real estate agents have begun to add a coronavirus addendum to new and existing contracts. This addendum allows for a little wiggle room when it comes to having repairs are done, which usually has a specific deadline.  In some instances when home inspections cannot be done, buyers can elect to purchase home-repair insurance. This covers structural or roofing damage that may have been missed during a home inspection. Not only that, but it can also cover appliances that break down, such as the HVAC unit or a refrigerator.  4. Virtual report reviews In most cases, buyers and their agents will sit down with the home inspector and go over their findings. However, due to social distancing and safety precautions, the inspector is going to provide a lot of photos and video recordings in their reports - much like they would do if the buyer was from out-of-state. The home inspector may use video conferencing programs like Zoom or Facetime to chat with the buyer and go over the report, or they may just do so over the phone. By going over the report and the photos/videos, the inspector can answer any questions the buyer may have. 

Home inspections during COVID-19 are possible

You’re probably tired of hearing it, but these truly are unprecedented times. All sorts of changes have had to be made to ensure that real estate transactions can be carried out as efficiently as possible while adhering to state and local ordinances. It’ll take some getting used to, but you’re working with professionals and they’ll be able to guide you along the way! For more on COVID-19 and the real estate comeback, check out HomeLight’s Top Agent Insight Survey from Q2. 

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