The main advantage of conducting a pre-listing home inspection is it allows you to identify issues and complete repairs before a buyer is involved.

Let’s take a look at how this and other benefits can accelerate the home sale process.

👉🏼 Get ahead of repairs
Common home repairs can take weeks to months to book and complete. A pre-listing home inspection gives you time to compare contractors and tackle repairs without the pressure of a buyer threatening to walk away from the sale.

Be aware that state laws mandate that sellers need to disclose known property issues to buyers. You’ll need to disclose any pre-listing inspection findings that you choose not to fix.

👉🏼  Reduce points of negotiation
Buyers often use home inspection findings to negotiate for a lower sale price or repair credits. For example, say an inspection reveals a major crack in the foundation that would cost $4,000 to repair. The buyer may ask that you either complete the repair or give them a $4,000 repair credit at closing. If the buyer included an inspection contingency in their offer, they can leave the deal with their earnest money intact if you don’t agree to their request.

With a pre-listing home inspection, you beat the buyer to the punch by completing (or at least acknowledging) these repairs ahead of time. Bypassing the usual inspection negotiations (often lasting one to three days), you can get to closing faster.

👉🏼  Determine an effective price point
Whether you tend to all, some, or none of the pre-listing home inspection findings, knowing your property’s condition can help set a strategic price. For instance, you might disclose that the roof needs a repair and share that the listing price reflects this discount. On the flip side, if you know your property is in perfect condition, you can price and market it as a turnkey home to encourage higher offers.

👉🏼  Encourage stronger offers
If you’ve conducted a pre-listing home inspection, you can market your home as “pre-inspected” and show buyers the inspection report along with relevant repair invoices. This documentation gives potential buyers the confidence to put in a higher offer because they know that there won’t be any surprise repair costs down the line.

If a buyer is torn between offering on your home or another, the pre-inspection bonus may just serve as the tiebreaker they need.

👉🏼  Prepare for an FHA appraisal
If a buyer is backed by a Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loan, your home will need to pass an FHA home appraisal. This intensive appraisal process functions similarly to a home inspection as the FHA appraiser assesses the property’s overall condition.

For the buyer’s loan to close, the seller must attend to any repairs “necessary to maintain the safety, security, and soundness of the Property, preserve the continued marketability of the property, and protect the health and safety of the occupants.”

The entire list of necessary repairs is extensive and includes the following issues:

• Cracked window glass
• Missing handrails
• Poor workmanship
• Trip hazards
• Lack of an all-weather driveway surface

Want to know if pre-lising inspection is right for you? Let's connect by email or phone!

CREDIT: homelight.com / Matthew Stalcup

The main advantage of conducting a pre-listing home inspection is it allows you to identify issues and complete repairs before a buyer is involved.

Let’s take a look at how this and other benefits can accelerate the home sale process.

👉🏼 Get ahead of repairs
Common home repairs can take weeks to months to book and complete. A pre-listing home inspection gives you time to compare contractors and tackle repairs without the pressure of a buyer threatening to walk away from the sale.

Be aware that state laws mandate that sellers need to disclose known property issues to buyers. You’ll need to disclose any pre-listing inspection findings that you choose not to fix.

👉🏼 Reduce points of negotiation
Buyers often use home inspection findings to negotiate for a lower sale price or repair credits. For example, say an inspection reveals a major crack in the foundation that would cost $4,000 to repair. The buyer may ask that you either complete the repair or give them a $4,000 repair credit at closing. If the buyer included an inspection contingency in their offer, they can leave the deal with their earnest money intact if you don’t agree to their request.

With a pre-listing home inspection, you beat the buyer to the punch by completing (or at least acknowledging) these repairs ahead of time. Bypassing the usual inspection negotiations (often lasting one to three days), you can get to closing faster.

👉🏼 Determine an effective price point
Whether you tend to all, some, or none of the pre-listing home inspection findings, knowing your property’s condition can help set a strategic price. For instance, you might disclose that the roof needs a repair and share that the listing price reflects this discount. On the flip side, if you know your property is in perfect condition, you can price and market it as a turnkey home to encourage higher offers.

👉🏼 Encourage stronger offers
If you’ve conducted a pre-listing home inspection, you can market your home as “pre-inspected” and show buyers the inspection report along with relevant repair invoices. This documentation gives potential buyers the confidence to put in a higher offer because they know that there won’t be any surprise repair costs down the line.

If a buyer is torn between offering on your home or another, the pre-inspection bonus may just serve as the tiebreaker they need.

👉🏼 Prepare for an FHA appraisal
If a buyer is backed by a Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loan, your home will need to pass an FHA home appraisal. This intensive appraisal process functions similarly to a home inspection as the FHA appraiser assesses the property’s overall condition.

For the buyer’s loan to close, the seller must attend to any repairs “necessary to maintain the safety, security, and soundness of the Property, preserve the continued marketability of the property, and protect the health and safety of the occupants.”

The entire list of necessary repairs is extensive and includes the following issues:

• Cracked window glass
• Missing handrails
• Poor workmanship
• Trip hazards
• Lack of an all-weather driveway surface

Want to know if pre-lising inspection is right for you? Let's connect!

CREDIT: homelight.com / Matthew Stalcup