The physical condition of your house greatly affects its value. Prudent purchasers always have a property thoroughly inspected before they buy it. No matter how beautifully you dress it up, buyers won’t pay top dollar for a house that needs extensive, expensive repairs.

Don’t let corrective-work problems sabotage your sale. Arrange your own inspection before you put your house on the market. In Chapter 7, we discuss four compelling reasons why getting a premarketing inspection is a good idea. We also explain how to choose a qualified inspector.

Be sure that the premarketing inspection covers all your house’s major structural and mechanical systems, inside and out, from foundation to roof. Anything less is unacceptable. Thoroughly inspecting a house or condo of average size usually takes three to four hours.

Reading the best report ever written is no substitute for seeing defects with your own eyes. That’s why we strongly recommend that you (and your agent, if you’re using one) tag along when your inspector does the premarketing inspection. Use this opportunity to question the inspector about a defect’s ramifications and explore corrective work alternatives.

Source: Reprinted with permission, CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®. Endorsement not implied.