Breaking Down Inspections and Appraisals: Costs Indiana Buyers and Sellers Can Expect

We’ll cover the differences in the two processes and show you how you can avoid inspections and appraisals by selling directly.

Your returns are the bottom line in investing. Naturally, greater risks bring greater rewards but can also lead to larger losses overall. For many, our largest venture into the real estate market is through homeownership, and for this reason, assessing the risks and making sure your investment will make gains in returns is of primary importance.

Professionals in the real estate industry understand the importance of determining these numbers, for this reason, they turn to home inspections and appraisals in Indiana as indicators on returns for buyers and sellers.

Now, appraisals and inspections are as different as apples and oranges. Both do include reviewing the property in question by licensed professionals in their fields. Because buyers and sellers need to know what they can expect, we’ll be covering the differences and breaking down the costs of inspections and Appraisals in Indiana. 

The focus differs in the processes and financial information appraisals and inspections provide, as does how they are of benefit to buyers and sellers in making this important financial decision.

Quite simply speaking, mortgage lenders nearly always require an appraisal, which helps to determine what a home is likely to sell for in Indiana.

The appraiser is a third party, in that they have no financial interest in the outcome of the appraisal and make an unbiased comparison in determining the numbers. The factors used to help in this process are location, the condition of the home, and the values of recently sold homes in the area which are the most similar to the property in question, called comparables.

In order to create his final report, the appraiser visits the home, doing a “walkthrough,” usually unaccompanied, as well as review comparables. No information is provided until the report is final.

Once the report has been submitted to the lender, they use the information regarding the current market value of the home in determining the risk of the loan. It is rare that more than 97% of a home’s value will be lent, so it becomes apparent that the value of the property must exceed the amount the borrower is requesting from the lender.

In the event that the borrower is required to make up any difference between the loan amount requested and what the lender can offer, there are a few options. The borrower may need to come up with the difference independently, seek renegotiations with the lender or lastly, just walk away. Now, on the other hand, if the appraisal comes in at a higher amount than the loan request, this difference would be considered as equity in the property.

Inspections can be requested prior to finalizing your transaction, but aren’t required by lenders. A licensed professional will be examining both the current condition of your home as well as investigating in depth in order to locate any issues of concern that must be addressed. They will be checking structural soundness, water invasion, exterior wear, such as roofing, as well as plumbing or electrical systems, and so on. The inspector will gladly take you along and explain their findings to you as they gather report data.

Buyers and sellers can expect that once they’ve received this final report, it may be required to renegotiate the pricing or negotiate who will be responsible for the repairs and any costs involved.

Appraisals are based on what is visible at a glance and provide information on the value of the home and can influence securing the loan you seek. Inspections focus intensely on the condition of the property. 

While lenders will arrange appraisals, however, any inspections must be arranged by the owner of the property. 

Your asking price in the market needs to be set right to attract buyers and buyers want to know they’re on target with what they’re paying for a home, inspections, and appraisals provide this security.  As the outcome of these reports have no significance to the professional performing them, inspections and appraisals in Indiana help buyers and sellers trust in the information, knowing what to expect from the transaction. They can also determine to move forward or cease any further dealings with the property based on these reports.

Be aware that inspections and appraisals are paid for by the homeowner, however, the benefits far outweigh the costs. It is highly recommended you pursue both.