Traditionally, most people think of a home inspection as an inspection that is paid for by the buyer and performed right before closing on the sale of the home. In today’s real estate market, sellers can level the playing field by getting a pre-listing inspection of their home to smooth the way to a quick sale.
According to the Zillow Group Consumer Housing Trends Report 2018, 25 percent of sellers get a home inspection before contacting an agent. It’s the third-most-common pre-listing activity, behind completing home improvements (which 50 percent of sellers do) and deciding on a listing price (39 percent).
The last thing you want is to have a prospective buyer’s home inspector discover an item that you were unaware of that is defective and requires fixing. Such a situation could send all parties back to the negotiating table.
A pre-listing inspection, which is paid for by the home seller, provides a written report of the condition of the property and can uncover concerns that might affect a sale. The inspector checks major systems, mechanicals, windows, and doors while also looking for safety concerns. It provides insight on aspects of the home that may require repair or replacement prior to putting it on the market, helping to ensure a quick sale for a maximum price.
If you have lived in your home for some time, weathering and normal wear and tear can create issues such as leaks, cracks, rotted wood, etc. A pre-listing inspection is a proactive step that a home seller can take that can offer many benefits, such as:
Identifying material defects that could potentially inhibit a sale.
The opportunity to address repairs ahead of time at their own pace and shop around for competitively priced contractors of their choice, thus avoiding having to pay for a higher-priced contractor of the buyer’s choosing.
Strengthening your home’s selling power.
Waiting for a potential buyer’s inspector to produce the report is often stressful for the home seller, and the prospective buyer’s opinion of the home can turn sour by the need for major repairs.
Thinking of listing your home? First, give me a call and we can provide you with our list of trusted inspectors to address the issues with your home first, rather than later, to maximize your home value.
Tanya L. Ess-Young , ABR, CPDE, CIAS, RRS, CSA |
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| Association Broker, Re/Max Pure |
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