Home inspections are an important part of any real estate transaction. Typically, the buyer orders the inspection before closing, but did you know the seller can request a home inspection too?
Pre-listing inspections are powerful tools for home sellers and have numerous benefits for both the buyer and the seller. If you’re in the process of selling your home, finding a home inspector to perform your pre-listing home inspection in Philadelphia, Bucks, Delaware, Chester, or Montgomery counties could be incredibly advantageous.
What Is a Pre-Listing Inspection?
A pre-listing inspection is the same as a normal home inspection. The only difference is who orders the inspection. Ordinarily, a potential buyer is the one who requests and pays for the home inspection. In this case, however, the seller is the one who requests and pays.
Home inspections are a type of real estate inspection that protect the buyer and seller from unforeseen or unwanted expenses during and after the home-buying process. During typical pre-listing inspections in Philadelphia, Bucks, Delaware, Chester, and Montgomery counties, your home inspector will look closely at the structure, major appliances, and electrical systems of your home.
Your home inspector will look for things that might compromise someone’s personal safety ( faulty wiring, blocked chimney, or an unstable structure, for example), or their financial safety. These property inspections help everyone walk away with a clearer picture of the financial and safety risks associated with a particular property.
Why Should I Get A Pre-Listing Inspection As a Seller?
You might think that performing a pre-listing inspection isn’t necessary if the buyer will perform one anyway, but this couldn’t be further from the truth. As a seller, ordering a pre-listing inspection in Philadelphia, Bucks, Delaware, Chester, and Montgomery counties is a great decision that can greatly help you in the long run. Here are a few reasons why you should schedule this type of home seller inspection.
There Are No Surprises
When you order a residential home inspection as a seller, you’re effectively making sure that you’re entering the home-selling process with as much information as possible. Even if you’ve lived in your home for years and think you know everything there is to know about the property, there are likely issues that you’ve missed.
Furthermore, some things that you might have learned to live with over the years could be deal-breakers for your potential buyers. Pre-listing inspections will provide you with not only a comprehensive list of the existing issues with your property but also the potential impact that each issue could have.
Your home inspector will provide you with a comprehensive list at the end of their inspection that will highlight issues with your home or property.
You’re In Control
When you order a pre-listing inspection, your home inspector will help you understand which issues need immediate fixing. This process is incredibly beneficial to all sellers because it gives them more control over the repair process.
Conducting repairs before listing your house can make its value skyrocket and can protect you from lengthy negotiations. It can also save you money by giving you more control over who conducts the repairs. If an issue requiring repairs is uncovered during a buyer’s home inspection, the buyer is more likely to want you, the seller, to pay for repairs. They’re also more likely to try to negotiate repairs that are more thorough or luxurious than they need to be, strictly speaking. All buyers are trying to get the most for their money, and pre-listing inspections can help protect you from negotiations that require you to pay more for repairs than you would otherwise.
You’ll Seem More Trustworthy
If you’re upfront about all existing issues with any potential buyers and you can back up your claims, you’ll seem a lot more trustworthy than some sellers on the market today. Many home buyers are wary of having the wool pulled over their eyes, but performing a pre-listing inspection is a great way to strengthen the trust between you and your buyer.
Clearer Picture of Value
There’s nothing worse than thinking your house is worth a lot more than it actually is. Going into the selling process with a realistic picture of how much work your home may need— and what could increase its value— is critical to a successful sale. Ordering a pre-listing inspection in Philadelphia, Bucks, Delaware, Chester, and Montgomery counties is a great way to get an idea of ways to maximize your home’s value before listing it. Another benefit of this is it limits the amount of back and forth during negotiations.
You Save Money
This may seem counterintuitive since you’re spending money on the pre-listing inspection, but it’s actually true! Disclosing known issues lets all potential buyers know that they’ve already been factored into the price, which takes them off the table during negotiations. Furthermore, if you decide to repair the issues before listing your home, you’ll probably pay less for the repairs than if they occur during negotiations or closing.
What If the Pre-Listing Inspection Uncovers Big Issues With My Home?
It can seem pretty daunting if your home inspector finds any major issues during your pre-listing inspection. While it’s probably not the outcome you were hoping for, it’s definitely preferable to learn this type of information as soon as possible.
If you find out that there are major problems with the home you’re trying to sell, you’ll likely need to evaluate your options and repair the issues before you put your home on the market. Your home inspector may be able to offer some insight about which issues will require immediate repair.
Depending on the issue, you may decide not to perform any repairs at all. If this is the case, you should still provide the information about the issues to all potential buyers, including the fact that you are not willing to conduct the repairs. This may impact your sales price, but being upfront about what you are or are not willing to do can save everyone some time during the negotiation process.
Looking for a home inspector to conduct a reliable pre-listing inspection in the Philadelphia, Bucks, Delaware, Chester, or Montgomery county area? Consider ARTI Home Inspections. We are PA State Compliant, Fully Trained & Insured, and ASHI Certified.
Contact us today for more information.