Should Sellers Have a Home Inspection Before Listing?

It's common for sellers to be afraid of home inspections - of uncovering potential problems that have conveniently gone unnoticed up until now. But is skipping pre-inspection really going to give you the best sale? 

Benefits of a pre-listing inspection

Home inspections are where most sales fall apart. Get ahead of your buyers and avoid any surprises during the closing process by having your home inspected before introducing it to potential investors.

Here's how a pre-listing inspection will benefit your sale process: 

Get a foundation to price your home

Pricing your property correctly is an essential step in the selling process. Price it too high and you will chase buyers away. Price it too low and you won't get what your property is worth. 

How can you accurately come up with a good selling price if you don't truly know what you're passing on to your buyer? Only a property inspector can give you full disclosure of the condition of your house, and therefore a foundation on which to price your property. 

Minimise stress

The possibility of uncovered flaws on your property adds unnecessary stress to the selling process. 

A pre-sale inspection will give you the opportunity to address any hidden flaws, in your own timeframe. An inspection after listing can be rushed, and you'll be pressed for time to get your home up-to-standard in order to close the agreement. 

Avoid renegotiation

Getting ahead of repairs will ensure you avoid renegotiations. If a buyer discovers an issue on your property, they will likely either back out of the  sale, or lower their offer to compensate for repairs. 

A pre-listing inspection will not only speed up the sale - as there won't be any issues to stumble upon during the closing process - it could even increase the return on your renovation investment. Any improvements you make to your property will raise the value of your home, attract buyers, and increase demand for your property. 

Improve buyer confidence

For most people, buying a home is be the most money they'll ever spend, so it makes sense for buyers to be cautious before closing a deal. If a potential buyer has any suspicions or concerns about the condition of your property, it will reflect in the offer they make. 

A pre-listing inspection report will give buyers peace-of-mind, and the opportunity to make a confident offer. Transparency is key - buyers want to know what they are investing their money into. 

If you need more guidance on how to get the most out of your property sale, we have the experience to get you there. Reach out!