It is commonly practiced and certainly ideal that the current seller not be on site during the home inspection. It can be unnecessarily stressful and emotional for a seller when someone is walking around their house intentionally looking for small problems. All of us can become very emotionally attached to our homes, especially if we have lived in them a long time, and even the best of us can become defensive if someone is pointing out all its faults.
Most listing agents will ask that the seller kindly vacate for a 3 to 4 hour period. This allows the inspector to work unfettered and gives the buyer the chance to speak freely about questions regarding positive or negative things found on site when they visit at the end of the inspection.
The seller doesn’t need to refute the findings of the home inspector in real time. There will be an opportunity to discuss the defects and merits of the inspection findings with the listing agent later on. This helps the real estate transaction and all parties involved to run smoothly.
Interestingly, while some buyers may find the home inspection process exciting and view it as an opportunity to learn more about the house, this is often not the case. The home inspector is most capable of performing their job and discovering issues when left to their own process in quiet. An eager buyer, even with great questions, can accidentally distract the inspector and reduce the chances of getting the best possible report.
Many buyer’s agents recommend, and it is ideal, that a home buyer show up roughly 30 minutes before the end of the inspection (which may take place over 2 to 4 hours depending on the size of the house) to get a final overview or introductory discussion about what was found. Many companies, including diligent ones, provide a dedicated time at the end of the home inspection to inform the buyer about larger and more pressing issues and introduce them to areas they should be aware of.
This can also be a great time to form a rapport with the home inspector so that future questions can be asked later. Sometimes buyers may want to come to the inspection for their own purposes of decorating or measuring, and that is often welcome, just so long as they allow the inspector the necessary time and space to focus.
Experience the DILIGENT Difference
With DILIGENT, you can understand the value of your potential home investment by skipping the guesswork and gathering deeper information about your new home with our detailed reports provided the same day as your inspection.
