Why You Need a Pre-Listing Inspection
Planning to put your home on the market soon? Want to give it the best possible chance for a smooth sale? Consider a pre-listing inspection.
I recommend all sellers to get a pre-listing inspection done. Doing so can potentially save you time, money, and stress when the home goes under contract.
What is a pre-listing inspection?
As the name suggests, it’s an inspection prior to listing your home. In practice, it’s the same as a pre-purchase inspection that you’d do before buying a home. We look at the foundation and overall structure of the home, utilities, HVAC units, and evidence of water damage. This gives the seller the opportunity to fix any issues prior to going on the market. Curious about what else I look for during a standard inspection? Read more about it here.
Why get a pre-listing inspection?
It gives you a chance to make repairs beforehand
This is, in my opinion, the most important benefit of a pre-listing inspection. If a problem turns up in the buyer’s inspection, it can become an obstacle to a successful (or full price) sale. Oftentimes if there are problems, they lead to discounts on the final price of your home because the repairs can be used as leverage. Getting a pre-listing inspection can make it so that you have the first chance to make repairs; giving you better control over the costs.
Having your own inspection done first lets you shop around for good repair estimates. It helps you avoid a time crunch with an impatient buyer, and gives you more negotiating power.
A pre-listing inspection helps set the right listing price
Your agent takes a lot of things into account when setting the list price for your home. The overall condition of your property is one of the things you can use to your advantage. If your home is in good condition with no need for any major fixes, it can help to validate the price of your home. If the condition isn’t so great and you don’t want to make repairs, you can lower the price as an incentive for buyers.
Another point to consider is that a poor pre-purchase inspection after the home has been put on the market may force you to lower your listing price.
Build trust with potential buyers
Buyers like it when the seller takes initiative and gets their home inspected first. It shows that you’re serious and responsible. It helps you get a leg up on the competition in the hearts and minds of potential buyers. Your pre-listing inspection may just be the thing that tips the scales in your favor with an indecisive prospect.
Speed
Another reason to consider a pre-listing inspection is the time that you save. I’ve never heard anyone say ‘boy, I love the process of selling my home! I hope it never ends!’. Getting an inspection and all of your repairs done before going on the market makes the buying process go smoother. There’s no back and forth on negotiations. No waiting for a buyer to get an inspector in; only to then back out of the sale for some reason, The best part? No nail-biting while you wait for the repairs or negotiations to be finished.
There are many other reasons to get a pre-listing inspection, these are just a few of the ones I think are the most important. If you’d like to know more about pre-listing inspections, contact me here. Or, have a look at other services we offer at Red Star Home Inspections. We offer inspections for residential and equestrian properties in Middleburg, Loudoun County, Washington, DC and surrounding areas.
