The Impact Of Pre-Listing Home Inspections

Before listing a home, many homeowners look for ways to make the property more attractive. Some may update the interior and give the home a fresh coat of paint, while some go all in with increasing the property’s curb appeal.

Yet it’s not uncommon for sellers to completely ignore evaluating the condition of the property. This is very concerning, as any hidden defects could significantly tank the property value and lead to unpleasant surprises during the transaction. 

Fortunately, you can circumvent this altogether with a pre-listing inspection. While not legally required, a seller's inspection will help you prepare the home for sale, and more importantly, inform you of the repairs that can increase the property’s value and maximize the chances of a successful deal. 

In this post, we’ll talk more about the impact of pre-listing home inspections and how they can benefit all the parties in real estate transactions.

What Is A Pre-listing Home Inspection?

A seller inspection, or a pre-listing home inspection, is an assessment of a home’s condition conducted by a certified home inspector. All the findings will be contained in a report you can use as a starting point in resolving any issues affecting the value of the home. 

You may have already gotten an idea of the impact of pre-listing home inspections - you can save time as you’ll know exactly what areas require extra attention and you’ll have all the data needed to figure out the perfect asking price.

In general, pre-listing home inspections are detailed and cover areas such as the foundation, windows, doors, and the exterior of the home, as well as key systems such as HVAC, plumbing, and electrical. 

You may also have concerns about a specific area of a home, in which case, you may need to schedule multiple inspections for an extra fee. For example, if you’re worried about the condition of a roof or selling a home with a swimming pool, you can gain a full understanding of the property by scheduling a roof and swimming pool inspection, respectively. 

Is A Pre-listing Inspection The Same As A Standard Home Inspection?

While the scope of both inspections is pretty much the same, there are two key differences - primarily concerning who pays for the service and at which point in the sale the inspection takes place.

A standard home inspection is paid for by the buyer before closing the sale, while a pre-listing inspection is ordered by the seller before listing. 

Is A Pre-listing Inspection Useful Only For Older Homes?

If you’re selling an older home, a pre-listing inspection can be almost necessary.

Old homes are infamous for hiding a great deal of defects that even you, the owner, may not be aware of  - regardless of how long you've lived on the property.

This is especially true for all the home systems and its overall structural integrity. 

Still, even if you have a newer home, a pre-listing evaluation could be useful, primarily due to the fact Florida weather can border on the extreme. Homes in the Sunshine State have to withstand strong winds regularly, and when you combine that with high humidity and excessive temperatures, damage to relatively new homes is quite common. 

Key Benefits Of A Pre-listing Home Inspection

To understand the full impact of pre-listing home inspections, you need to consider the main benefits, including (but not limited to):

1. Make the repairs before listing

Having your home inspected before putting it on the market provides you with a unique opportunity to make the right repairs well before looking for buyers. 

Plus, if the inspector identifies any issues, you can decide for yourself whether you want to make the repairs or simply adjust the price to better reflect the home’s condition.

2. Maintain your negotiating power

If a buyer’s inspection reveals hidden defects, the buyer will gain a lot more negotiating power - which could result in a drastic price reduction. 

To minimize your losses, you can conduct repairs and include their cost in the asking price - shifting the odds back in your favor.

3. Attract more buyers

By including the results of the inspection in the listing description, you can generate more interest from prospective buyers. If the report ends up being squeaky clean, even better - your listing will grab more attention from quality buyers than other homes sold in the area.

In the event the inspection comes up with some issues, being forthcoming about them beforehand will significantly increase your trustworthiness, which can also give you an edge over your competitors. 

4. Get peace of mind

Most sellers dread a buyer’s inspection for a good reason. They spent all that time marketing a property, attracting the buyer, and so the last thing they want is for the buyer to back out because of a surprising defect. 

With a pre-listing inspection, though, you can enter into negotiations with a new level of confidence. You'll have full insight into the condition of the property so you can get the necessary peace of mind that whatever happens, you've done your best to successfully close a sale. 

5. Ensure a smooth transaction

Even though the impact of the pre-listing inspections is that they completely eliminate the risk of the unknown for the seller, buyers will also benefit from them as they'll get reassurance the property they're looking to buy is worth it. 

Also, placing all the bets about the outcome of your sale on a buyer’s inspection is a recipe for disaster. In fact, most deals fall through because of an unexpected situation that pops out during the inspection. 

With a pre-listing inspection, however, everyone involved (including the real estate agent) can enjoy a smooth transaction process.

As a huge plus, you can avoid the hassle of making repairs and dealing with contractors while trying to make a sale. 

Sell A Home Without Losing Any Sleep

If you want to decrease the stress of the sale for all the parties involved, a pre-listing inspection is the best way to go.

While it's true that this inspection will be an extra expense for you, considering all the ways you can benefit from it, the price is more than worth it.

Since the buyer will most likely conduct their inspection, any discrepancies between the reports could harm the trust between you and the buyer. Thus, when choosing an inspector, work only with those who have the necessary certifications, experience, and reputation.

If you’re located in South or Central Florida, your best bet is Guardian Angel Inspections. Over the years, we’ve helped many sellers make the right real estate decisions and achieve the best possible results in their real estate transactions.

Fill out our contact form or call 561-512-7854 and sell your property with a newfound level of power and confidence.