Third-Party Inspection Services Can’ t do an auction walk around yourself— whether the item is across the country or you simply want a professional eye on it— third-party inspection services cover most asset types. Vehicles: Lemon Squad, AiM Mobile Inspections, and SGS Automotive all dispatch certified inspectors who examine the vehicle and deliver a detailed report. Expect to pay $100-$250 depending on the inspection tier. Find them and others by searching “AUCTION WALK AROUND” on YouTube. Heavy equipment: Ritchie Bros Inspections (distinct from their auction arm), Iron Planet Inspections, and regional heavy equipment mechanics all offer this service. Typical costs land between $200-$500. Find them and others by searching “AUCTION WALK AROUND” on YouTube. Real estate: Standard home inspections run $300-$500. For government-owned properties through HUD or Fannie Mae, an inspection is non-negotiable— many have sat vacant for years, and the problems that accumulate in an empty house are not small ones. On anything valued over $2,000, skipping the inspection is a gamble you will almost certainly lose. A $150 vehicle inspection that surfaces a $3,000 transmission problem isn’t a cost— it’s a rescue. Pro tip: Pass the auction listing URL directly to your inspector. Let them see exactly what you’ re looking at so they can go straight for the throat on the area’s most likely to have issues.
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