A home inspection is a standard part of any real estate transaction. While typically completed by a buyer when the home is under contract, sellers can choose to have a home inspected before they list it for sale. Reasons for a seller to order a pre-listing home inspection include insight into home value, reduced stress, and more leverage during sales negotiations.

Reasons to Order a Pre-Listing Home Inspection

A pre-listing home inspection is a valuable tool that can help your home sell more smoothly and quickly with fewer surprises. A problem that turns up on a home inspection can lead to costly delays or even a canceled transaction. Here’s why you should consider spending the money to have your home inspected before you put it on the market.

1. Reduce Stress While Selling Your Home

Selling your home can be a stressful experience. You work to get your home in top shape before potential buyers examine your home. You may be worried about hidden issues with your home that could derail the sale.

One of the reasons to order a pre-listing home inspection is to reduce the stress you face during this process. You will better understand your home’s condition and can make needed repairs on your own schedule without the pressure of deadlines in the sales agreement.

2. Get Insight to Price Your Home Accurately

One challenge you will face when selling your home is making sure you choose the right price. If your home is priced too high, buyers may be discouraged to make an offer. If you price it too low, you will leave money on the table. A home inspection helps you understand information about your home that affects its value so you can price your home accordingly or make improvements and repairs to get a better price.

3. Order a Pre-Listing Home Inspection to Improve Buyer Confidence

A home is the largest investment most people will ever make, so any home buyer will be concerned about the condition of the home they want to buy. One of the reasons to order a pre-listing home inspection is to ease buyer concerns and show that the home has already been inspected by an impartial third party.

4. Assist in Negotiations

Your pre-listing home inspection helps eliminate unpleasant surprises during the transaction and gives you the opportunity to make important repairs before the home is listed or adjust your home’s price accordingly. This gives you the upper hand during negotiations since you’ve addressed these points ahead of time. The buyer will have few justifications for concessions or price reductions.

5. Get Time to Correct Defects

If the buyer’s home inspection shows problems, you will have to take care of them before the contract’s deadline. Learn about defects with your home before it’s listed rather than during the escrow process. One of the reasons to order a pre-listing home inspection is to give yourself time to discover and fix important issues with your home so it has a clean bill of health when you list it for sale.

6. Make Repairs Yourself

An overlooked benefit of a pre-listing inspection is the opportunity to make repairs and improvements yourself. Once your home is under contract, problems that you agree to repair usually must be performed by a licensed professional. Even a simple fix, like replacing a leaking faucet or electrical outlet can cost hundreds of dollars when performed by a professional.

Jamie Schaefer Professional Home Inspector serves the New York Metropolitan area with professional home inspection services. Contact us to book an appointment.