Home Inspections Increase Confidence

Advisory Report - April 2001

Home Inspections Increase Confidence in Home Purchase and Realtor
A recent study by the National Association of Realtors and the American Society of Home Inspectors indicates that Realtors strongly agree that a home inspection increases buyer confidence in their purchase, and increases buyer confidence in their real estate agent/broker. 

The survey, conducted in February 2001, revealed major findings involving home buyers and Realtors.  Among the Realtor findings:

• Most Realtors (84%) have not had any sellers contracts terminated as a result of a home inspection.

• Nearly all Realtors (99%) recommend that the buyer get a home inspection, with 92% saying they always make this recommendation, and an additional 7% saying they often make this recommendation.

Among the home buyer findings:

• 77% percent of all recent home buyers obtained a home inspection prior to the purchase of their homes.

• A majority of home buyers (57%) personally requested home inspections be conducted on properties they were in the process of purchasing, while 43% followed their real estate agent's recommendation to include a home inspection in the real estate process.

• More than half (54%) of home buyers had knowledge of the inspector being a member of a professional home inspection organization.

• 97% of home buyers surveyed believe that the home inspection was a good value for the price they paid.  

For more information about the home inspection study, visit the ASHI at http://www.ashi.com/media/press.htm or contact Chad Ritterbusch at (312) 372-7090.