Why Chattanooga homes need inspections that fit.

by Desmond Thornton | May 9, 2025 | Informational Material

No two homes in Chattanooga are the same.

Some were built over 80 years ago. Others have just finished construction. Some sit on the valley floor. Others rest on the slope of Lookout Mountain. This kind of variety makes our city special, but it also means a basic, checklist-style home inspection isn’t enough.

We’ve seen it all. And we’ve learned that a proper inspection in Chattanooga must match the home.

Older homes hide older issues.
Neighborhoods like St. Elmo, Brainerd, and North Shore are full of charm, but they often come with aging plumbing, electrical work, or hidden leaks. These aren’t things most buyers can spot during a showing. But they’re the kind of issues that show up after move-in, when it’s already too late.

New builds come with new risks.
Even new homes in areas like Apison or Ooltewah can have hidden problems. Sometimes it’s rushed work. Other times, it’s overlooked details like missing insulation or drainage issues.
We don’t assume a home is perfect just because it’s new. We inspect everything.

Waterfront and mountain homes are special cases.
If you’re near water or on a hillside, expect extra pressure on foundations, more moisture, and different types of wear. These homes need an inspector who understands what to look for, because not all damage is obvious.

Why are our inspections different?
We don’t just run through a checklist. We look at the type of home, where it sits, how it was built, and how long it’s been standing. From historic bungalows to smart homes, we tailor the inspection to the property.

We’ve worked with families, investors, first-time buyers, and sellers who just want a smoother sale.

If you’re not looking under the surface, you don’t really know what you’re buying (or selling).

You only get one shot at a smooth sale!

Pre-Inspections are changing the way homes are sold—here’s why you Shouldn’t Wait

by Desmond Thornton | May 3, 2025 | Informational Material

You’ve built the home. You’ve lived in it.
You’ve cared for every detail.

But the moment it hits the market, the focus shifts—from everything you’ve done right, to what might be wrong.
That’s the reality of today’s real estate market—and it’s exactly why pre-listing inspections are no longer a luxury. They’re becoming the standard.

The Hidden Pressure of Today’s Home Sale
Whether you’re a builder handing over a brand-new project or a homeowner saying goodbye to a place you’ve invested in for years, the selling process brings real pressure.
Not just financial pressure, but emotional, reputational, and logistical.
Here’s what happens without a pre-inspection:
• A buyer falls in love with the home… until their inspector finds something.
• You’re asked to cut the price, fix it fast, or lose the deal.
• Confidence fades. Trust breaks. Everyone scrambles.

It’s not that you did something wrong. It’s that you weren’t in control of the timing.

What is a Pre-Inspection? ( And why is it a smarter first step? )
A pre-listing inspection is a professional home inspection done before your property is listed for sale. Rather than waiting for a buyer’s inspector to uncover issues during the contract phase, you get ahead of the process and control the narrative from day one.
But the real power of pre-inspections today isn’t just early insight.
It’s the message it sends: “We have nothing to hide.”

Why Sellers and Builders Are Leading This Trend
1. It protects your PRICE
Buyers love leverage. If their inspector finds a problem, they’ll use it. Pre-inspections give you a chance to fix what matters or price accordingly so you don’t lose thousands in surprise renegotiations.
2. It speeds up the SALE
Informed buyers make faster decisions. If they can review a trusted inspection upfront, they don’t have to pause to schedule their own. That means quicker offers and fewer delays.
3. It puts you in CONTROL
You choose when the inspection happens. You decide what to fix and what to disclose. You prevent last-minute chaos and take the process back into your hands.
4. It builds buyer TRUST
When you share a third-party inspection upfront, you disarm suspicion. You shift the conversation from “What’s wrong with this place?” to “How soon can we close?”

GOOD FAITH INSPECTION PROGRAM: Pre-listing with a purpose
At Thornton Home Inspections, we’ve seen too many good deals fall apart because the inspection came too late.
That’s why we built the Good Faith Inspection Program (GFIP)- a modern, transparent way to do pre-inspections that:
• Costs you nothing upfront
• Gives buyers access before they offer
• Keeps the report out of your hands so buyers know it’s real
• Refunds you fully if 3 or more buyers purchase the report
Whether you’re a homeowner, seller, or builder, GFIP lets you lead with confidence and eliminate the guesswork that slows everything down.

The Bottom Line: Waiting Comes at a Cost
Buyers don’t want uncertainty.
You don’t want surprises.

And no one wants to renegotiate after the paperwork starts.
Pre-inspections aren’t just a smart move anymore. They’re becoming the new norm.
And in a market that rewards clarity, trust, and speed, the earlier you lead with truth, the better your results.
If you’re planning to sell, ask yourself this:
Would I rather control the conversation or respond to it under pressure?
Let’s put the facts on the table first.

Let’s sell smarter!

Why real estate deals fall apart after inspection —and how sellers can avoid it

by Desmond Thornton | Apr 28, 2025 | Informational Material

If you’ve ever had a buyer walk away after a home inspection, you know the frustration:
The listing looks great, interest is high, and then—boom. A surprise repair or negotiation sends the deal into a tailspin.
But what if you could get ahead of the inspection… without paying upfront?

What if buyers could purchase your inspection report… and you might even get your money back?
That’s exactly what the Good Faith Inspection Program (GFIP) was built for.
The Problem: Post-Inspection Fallout
For many sellers, the home inspection feels like a ticking time bomb.

Everything can seem on track until the buyer’s inspector uncovers issues that:
Trigger repair demands
Delay closing timelines
Lead to renegotiation
Or worse, cause the buyer to walk

It’s stressful. And often, these issues weren’t even deal breakers — just surprises that came too late in the process.
The Solution: The Good Faith Inspection Program
GFIP flips the script on the traditional inspection process by giving sellers and agents a smarter, more transparent system—before the listing goes live.

Here’s how it works:
The home is inspected before listing
Sellers pay nothing upfront for the inspection.
Buyers scan a QR code at the property
They can instantly purchase a discounted report to review.
If 3 or more buyers purchase the report
The seller is refunded 100 percent of the inspection cost.
Buyers feel informed and confident
They make offers with fewer surprises and less back-and-forth.

Why It Works
GFIP was designed to remove friction and build trust across the board:

For Sellers: No upfront cost. More leverage in negotiation. Better odds of a clean closing.
For Buyers: Early insight into the home. Fewer surprises. Optional walkthroughs available.
For Agents: More confident listings. Fewer fall-throughs. Shorter closing timelines.

And here’s the best part: If your buyer wants to do their own inspection later, they still can. GFIP just gives them a head start.

Inspections don’t have to mean uncertainty.
With GFIP, sellers and agents can approach the process differently—calmly, openly, and with no upfront costs.

It’s a practical way to keep your deal moving forward.

Curious if GFIP could make your next sale smoother?

Learn more >>