Dayoub said she's never recommended that a seller have an inspection done because she's never listed a property that was in such bad shape that one would be warranted. When sellers ask whether or not they should, we usually recommend against it. Some home inspectors are certified to perform termite, asbestos, radon and lead-paint testing. On rare occasions, such as if the house is in really bad shape, Duffy said he would go along with a seller's inspection to get the defects down on paper and address them before the house goes on the market. I believe that most sellers want to be open and honest with buyers, but, for some reason, the more open and honest you try to be, the more problems seem to result.
Most inspections follow a narrative or a checklist, or a combination of the two.
Before choosing an inspector, consumers should review a number of sample reports so they can choose the report that meets their needs. If seller inspections were required by law, Duffy said he would welcome them. But not now. When the issue first came up, I talked to a couple of lawyers who warned against it because radon readings can change every day. According to David Rapp, a New York real estate lawyer who also practices in Massachusetts and California, the straw that broke caveat emptor's back was dropped in California.