Benefits of a Pre-Listing Home Inspection
Aug 6, 2007
Author: Family Realty LLC

Benefits of a Pre-Listing Home Inspection

It has happened many times in the real estate world – a buyer is all set to buy what they perceive to be his or her dream home – only to discover (via a buyer ordered professional home inspection) that the home has some structural problems or extensive roof deficiencies.

The unsettling discovery casts a negative shadow in the buyer’s eyes, and just like that, the dream home doesn’t look so dreamy anymore. Obviously, a remedy will need to be worked out, which causes increased trepidation in the buyers mind- a mind already filled with a mixture of excitement and apprehension. All of a sudden, decisions need to be made as to who will pay for the repairs; estimates must be made and times frames may need to be considered. As a result, the buyer may decide it’s not worth the hassle and uncertainty involved. He or she backs out completely, focusing the search on more promising properties.

When you originally purchased your home, you, in all likelihood, had a professional home inspection done before signing on the dotted line. After all, being a prudent consumer, you wanted to have some assurance that you weren’t about to dwell in a home where the ceiling wasn’t likely to collapse on top of you as Junior honed his jumping jack skills upstairs. And you certainly didn’t want to feel the need to reach for an umbrella whenever a light drizzle of rain happened – because of a leaky roof.

Although it’s a common practice in real estate for the buyer to order the home inspection, it’s extremely judicious to be aware that you can greatly enhance the marketability of your home by having a pre-sale inspection done before the first potential buyer ever stops foot on your property. The benefits are substantial, and greatly outweigh the cost of the inspection.
So, how do you, the seller, not to mention, the buyer benefit when you order a pre-listing home inspection? Consider these advantages:

♦ Confidence is fostered: You can only increase your stature in the eyes of the buyer. They figure, you are more conscientious than most home sellers, and will most likely equate your initiative with being an honest seller willing to go the extra step. This eagerness to assist the buyer will not go unnoticed.

♦ Simplifies negotiations for the seller: If you know, before your home goes on the market, what problem areas (if any) need to be focused on, you can make the determination whether or not to spend the money on eliminating them yourself, or adjusting your price to reflect those needed improvements.

♦ Simplifies negotiations for the buyer: Likewise, if the buyer knows up front that the house has certain flaws – needing to be corrected – already reflected in the homes price – he or she can make the decision as to moving forward with the deal, or declining it and looking elsewhere.

♦ Saves time: A buyer who has your home inspection in hand, can make a quicker, more informed decision about proceeding with the deal, or not. Thus, you don’t loose time by continuing with possibly – futile renegotiations, and can continue to show your home to other buyers.

♦ Saves money: Real estate pros say experience has shown that buyers tend to look harder for additional flaws – flaws that will cost money to rectify – once they find the first detect (via their own inspection). Realtors® also add that buyers, historically, have the tendency to renegotiate two dollars for every dollar it costs to correct a flaw.

In addition, try to make arrangements for your home inspector to return for the purpose of discussing the inspection report with the buyer. This will add credibility to your report. Also, make available any documentation you have of surrounding repair work or replacements you’ve made, such as receipts or warranties.