The question of whether to conduct a pre-listing home inspection is a polarizing one. Some real estate agents believe that hiring a pre-listing home inspector is a critical component for a successful sale, while others consider the idea too risky and a waste of time and money. If you’re on the fence, here are some tips to consider.
Commit to the Inspection Process
Before you hire a pre-listing home inspector, make sure you’re fully committed to the process. This means accepting the additional investment – “additional” because in most home sales, only the buyer invests in a home inspection. This leads to one of the main arguments against hiring a pre-listing home inspector: the idea that the seller is better off waiting to have the buyer’s inspection completed before completing any necessary repairs.
Another part of being fully committed is understanding the risk involved with hiring a pre-listing inspector. Due to the existence of “full-disclosure laws”, anything found during the pre-listing inspection must be shared with the buyer. If the pre-inspection turns up something major that the seller is unwilling or unable to repair, potential buyers could walk away. This risk-reward scenario is something that the seller needs to consider from all angles and discuss with their real estate agent before moving forward with a pre-listing home inspection.
Be Prepared for Push Back From the Seller
In an ideal situation, a pre-listing inspection will boost the confidence of the buyer because it represents transparency on the seller’s part. If the seller is willing to go the extra mile, gain an understanding of their home’s condition from an experienced inspector, and pass this information onto the buyer, the buyer will be less likely to renegotiate the price because their own inspection will uncover many of the same issues discovered during the pre-listing inspection.
However, not every negotiation is ideal, and sellers should be prepared for a situation in which they hire a pre-listing inspector and pay for the recommended repairs, only for the buyer’s inspector to identify and ask for several additional repairs. Whether valid or not, it’s not unreasonable for a seller to find themselves believing that they have “given the buyer an inch and now the buyer is taking a mile” by asking for even more repairs. Such situations can cause animosity between the buyer and seller, and could ultimately kill a deal.
In the end, it’s important to establish a budget for repairs and stick to it. If you have the money to cover a pre-listing home inspection as well as any requested repairs stemming from the buyer’s inspection, hiring a pre-listing home inspector can be very beneficial. However, if you’re worried about your budget or you’re steadfastly against doing “double-work” – that is, paying for your own inspection-related repairs and those of the buyer, then you probably want to play it safe and rely on the buyer’s inspection to discover any necessary fixes.
For more information on the benefits and drawbacks of hiring a pre-listing home inspector in Minneapolis or St. Paul, contact Inspecta-Homes today.
Thanks so much for talking about what to expect when hiring a pre-purchase home inspector. My sister and her husband are looking to sell their house and move into one they can grow into. They’ve been looking into hiring an inspector for both their house and the one they plan to buy when they find it.
I liked how this post shared that sellers should pay for the recommended repairs by a home inspector. My friend wants a home without issues. I should advise her to hire a home inspector with vast experience in their field.
It’s interesting when you said that you should ensure agreement when hiring a home inspector for a proper inspection process. My friend told me the other day that he was planning to sell their home property because of a change of plans. He asked if I had thoughts on the best option as he wants to have a property inspection to learn the space of the property. I love this instructive article, I’ll tell him he can consult a home inspection service as they can help him provide more information about the property.
I like how you talked about the tips for hiring a pre-listing home inspector, this is really important to take for you to make a sale, and this applies to pre-purchase inspections as well. Last week, my cousin told me that he was trying to buy a house, and he got a piece of advice from someone that he needed a pre-purchase inspection to make sure the house that he considers buying is all in good condition. He asked if I had any idea what would be the best option to when finding a pre-purchase inspector. Thanks to this enlightening article, I will tell him that consulting with a well-known pre-purchase inspection services company will be a good start for him.
This article offers fantastic advice on choosing a pre-listing home inspector. The tips are clear and practical, making it easier to find a reliable inspector who can provide a thorough assessment. Great resource for anyone preparing to sell their home and wanting to ensure everything is in top shape!