Pre-Listing Home Inspections
With a Pre-Listing Inspection, sellers gain peace of mind by investing in a thorough certified home inspection prior to putting a house up for sale. The last-minute discovery of problems by a prospective buyer can lead to time delays, added expenses and can even derail a deal altogether. According to BuyersAsk.com, one of the benefits of a pre-sale inspection “is that it may lead to a home selling faster. . more money”, & they “frequently make for a smoother sale”.
What is a Move-In Certified® Inspection
How Does It Work?
INSPECTION BEFORE YOU LIST
- Mitigate Risk
- Price the Home Accurately
- Attract Serious Buyers
- Less Negotiations
- Understanding the Condition of the Home
- Better Marketing
MAKE REPORT AVAILABLE
- Performed by Certified InterNachi Inspector
- Hosted On a Secure Site
- Serious Buyers Can Gain Access
SELL FASTER FOR MORE $$
- Having all the information upfront is key
- Build trust with buyers
- Receive more buyer prospects
- Receive higher prices with transparency
Reasons to Inspect before Listing Your Home?
Listings that have had a Pre-Sale Inspection benefit all parties — purchasers, sellers and realtors. Following are some reasons to have your home inspected BEFORE listing it:
- Deals Won’t Fall Through – Home inspections, performed as a condition of the offer, can lead to the deal not closing. Sometimes this is because the purchaser gets cold feet. Sometimes there’s a big problem no one knew about. Sometimes it is because the house has been misrepresented; sometimes it is because the home inspector scared the purchasers by not explaining that minor and typical problems are just that – minor and typical.
- Pre-inspected Listings Avoid Renegotiation– In a buyers’ market, most houses have to be sold twice. It takes a lot of work to get a signed Agreement of Purchase and Sale. Then the home inspection is done and the purchaser wants to renegotiate. If all parties know the condition of the house prior to the offer, there is no need for renegotiation. As most real estate agents know, renegotiation is very difficult:
- Home Owners have already mentally sold the house;
- purchasers are suffering buyers’ remorse;
- Egos, pride and frustration can muddy the already emotional waters.
A home owner who pays for a pre-sale home inspection will be further ahead than one who has to renegotiate. He or she may even sell the house faster.
- Unrealistic Seller – An inspection at the time of listing can also help a realtor deal with a home seller who has unrealistic expectations. The inspection report is good ammunition for explaining why you can’t ask top dollar for a house that is not in top condition.
- Repairs Prior to Sale – Sometimes, the home inspection will reveal items which should be repaired immediately. A pre-inspected listing allows the seller to repair the problem prior to putting the house on the market. This could also save the seller money as there is more time to get bids and find the best company to do the job. The home will present better at showings, and the inspector could update the report to be provided to potential buyers.
If the inspection occurs after the Agreement of Purchase and Sale, the purchaser could walk, renegotiate, or depending on the inspection clause, the seller may have an option to repair. A repair done by an unmotivated seller to satisfy the condition may not be the best repair and may not meet the purchaser’s expectations. This has caused more than one deal not to close.
- Reputable Inspection Companies – Pre-inspected listings will only have value if the home inspection company is perceived to be reputable and qualified. Prospective purchasers will have little or no faith in a report done by someone they perceive to be in the sellers’ or realtors’ pocket.
Summary
We believe that the future of home inspections lies in pre-inspected listings. Offers are cleaner and deals are less likely to be renegotiated or fall through. Pre-inspected listings afford purchasers, sellers and realtors the information and protection they all deserve.
** While doing your own research, check out HGTV.com’s Top 4 Reasons to “Get an Inspection Before Selling Your Home”.