{"id":16167,"date":"2020-04-27T08:41:21","date_gmt":"2020-04-27T15:41:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/?p=16167"},"modified":"2026-04-15T03:12:21","modified_gmt":"2026-04-15T10:12:21","slug":"home-inspections-coronavirus-seller-advice","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/home-inspections-coronavirus-seller-advice\/","title":{"rendered":"How Home Inspections Work During Coronavirus: Advice for Sellers"},"content":{"rendered":"

A home inspection can be unnerving under typical circumstances, considering the apprehension about any unexpected maintenance issues. But add worries about the coronavirus, and sellers are doubly nervous about whether a home inspection is even safe right now. Real estate agents<\/a> and home inspectors share those concerns \u2014 and are adapting new protocols to ensure this necessary part of the home sale process is as safe as possible for everyone.<\/p>\n

Matt Steinhausen<\/a>, an independent home inspector since 1999 in Lincoln, Nebraska, shifted in March to inspecting only homes that have been vacant for 24 hours or more. Steinhausen, who holds an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau<\/a>, says he wants to prevent transmitting the virus to two family members whose health makes them more vulnerable.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not meeting with any real estate agents or homeowners, and I am not doing any face-to-face walk-throughs with homebuyers,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s look at some adaptations for conducting safe home inspections during the coronavirus.<\/p>\n

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Source: (Garret Schappacher \/ Pexels)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Offer a pre-listing inspection<\/h2>\n

A home inspection is \u201can essential part of a real estate sale<\/a>,\u201d according to the American Society of Home Inspectors<\/a> (ASHI), a not-for-profit professional association for home inspectors that compiles standards of practice for home inspections. In fact, not obtaining a home inspection could expose homeowners and buyers to safety hazards<\/a>, such as defective mechanical systems, and financial risks.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt would lead to uncertainty for the buyer purchasing the home\u2026 as if there were something they didn\u2019t want the buyer to be aware of,\u201d says Katie Lechner<\/a>, a top real estate agent in the Cocoa, Florida, area.<\/p>\n

However, stay-at-home orders vary by municipality<\/a> as far as whether real estate sales and home inspections are considered \u201cessential services\u201d during the coronavirus pandemic. Lechner has known sellers in the past who have declined a home inspection and says it\u2019s usually not wise to refuse this common contract contingency<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe buyer could absolutely cancel the contract, and the escrow<\/a> would be due back to the buyer,\u201d Lechner says.<\/p>\n

With sellers worried about having enough time to complete any necessary repairs, Lechner has suggested a pre-listing inspection \u2014 essentially, a home inspection that the seller arranges before putting the home on the market.<\/p>\n

This costs an average of $315 nationwide<\/a>, and the buyer isn\u2019t required to use the findings, even if everything checks out OK. But it does allow for some peace of mind and can make a sale go more smoothly if buyers see that you\u2019re on top of any maintenance.<\/p>\n

What if inspections are canceled or delayed right now?<\/h2>\n

Some inspections may be delayed or canceled because of municipal restrictions or people\u2019s health. ASHI recommends that inspectors and homeowners reschedule inspections<\/a> if anyone feels sick or exhibits any symptoms of a respiratory illness, such as a fever of 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or higher<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cI have had some cancellations or postponements due to the inability of other parties to vacate homes,\u201d Steinhausen says. \u201cI don’t charge my clients for inconveniencing me in circumstances beyond their control.\u201d<\/p>\n

Buyers and sellers at the moment understand that timelines, even for lending, might be delayed, agents say. In fact, agents are adding a coronavirus addendum<\/a> to new and existing contracts to allow for some breathing room for repairs and other steps that typically must be completed within certain time frames.<\/p>\n

Regardless, if you\u2019re unable to accommodate a home inspection<\/a> right now, you can offer buyers a home warranty instead, says Suzanne Damon<\/a>, a top-selling agent in Manchester, New Hampshire. Also known as home-repair insurance<\/a>, this covers any structural or roofing damage not found during a home inspection<\/a>, as well as breakdowns in appliances, such as the refrigerator or furnace.<\/p>\n

Most warranties cost about $300 to $500<\/a> and last about a year after the closing date.<\/p>\n

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Source: (Gustavo Fring \/ Pexels)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

How can I protect myself and my home during a home inspection right now?<\/h2>\n

For starters, be assured that everyone is on the same page, and that any discomfort won\u2019t sound unusual. Talk with your agent as well as the inspector or inspection company about any precautions, such as:<\/p>\n