Inspections and Appraisals
Most buyers will have the property examined by a licensed property inspector to verify everything in the contract is accurate. Inspection time frames will be laid out in the Purchase Agreement. Some buyers will choose to have separate inspectors evaluate specific areas of the property such as the roof, plumbing, or HVAC systems.
If the buyer is financing their purchase, a licensed appraiser will most likely examine your property as well. Since the agreement is contingent upon financing, the lending institution will require confirmation that their investment in your home is accurately reflected in the agreed price. A third party appraiser will be brought in to determine the value of your property.
The Closing Agent
Either a title company or an attorney will serve as the closing agent whose role is to examine and ensure a clear title to the real estate. After reviewing the recorded history of your property, they will certify that your title is clear of encumbrances such as leases, mortgages, or restrictions by the date of closing to allow the proper transfer of title to the buyer.
When you are ready to get started, call us at 206.375.2176 or complete this short form and one of our agents will be in touch.
What Else You Should Know
Contingencies
A contingency is a condition that must be met before a contract becomes legally binding. Buyers will typically include contingencies tied to home inspections or securing their financing.
Before completing the purchase of your property, the buyer will work through the necessary steps.
These include:
- Securing financing and insurance
- Reviewing all pertinent documents such as preliminary title reports and disclosure documents
- Inspecting the property. The buyer has the right to investigate the condition of your property through a wide range of inspections, such as roof, termite and pest, chimney and fireplace, property boundary survey, well, septic, pool and spa, arborist, mold, lead based paint, HVAC, and more.
Navigating renegotiation requests objectively while protecting your best interests is exactly where J2 Group LLC makes a real difference. Our team has guided clients through a wide range of property sale scenarios, and we bring that same level of expertise and total commitment to every client regardless of their situation.
Loan Approval and Appraisal
We recommend accepting buyers who present a lender's pre-approval, approval letter, or written loan commitment, as these provide a stronger guarantee of financing than a simple pre-qualification or no documentation at all. Expect an appraiser from the lender's company to review your property and verify that the sales price is appropriate.
Get In Touch
Tips for Presenting Your Home Well
Give your house a deep clean
First impressions mean everything. Before you decide to list your home, give it a deep clean. This means cleaning toilets, wiping down surfaces, mopping floors, cleaning rugs and scrubbing bathrooms. You might even consider calling in the professionals to ensure your home is in the best condition it can possibly be before hitting the market.
Declutter the home
When a home is clutter-free, buyers are able to focus on the actual property instead of the piles of mail, laundry, and general mess that can distract them. Potential buyers want to envision their own life in your space. Decluttering and organizing goes a long way in creating that emotional connection and appealing to serious buyers.
Call a handyman
Before listing your home, make sure everything that needs to be fixed has been taken care of. Buyers will come into your property knowing it has been well maintained, and that confidence translates directly into stronger offers and smoother transactions.