Seller’s: A pre-listing inspection can save money – and prevent worry!
Hiring a home inspector can be a somewhat nerve-wracking process for a seller, especially in today’s market where buyers are not afraidto demand a long list of problems be addressed before the sale is finalized.
No matter how much you do to prepare the home, you should brace yourself. The first thing for seller’s to understand is there are no perfect homes on the market, or anywhere for that matter. Inspectors are always going to find things that are perceived as “wrong” by your potential buyers. Often, many of the problems are minor and inexpensive enough for the seller to either fix or allow a credit for in the home price.
It’s the unwillingness to negotiate, or discovery of major deficiencies that will usually kill a deal.
As it’s often more costly to address a problem by lowering the sale price of a home, it’s in a seller’s best interest to have the home as ready as possible before the buyer’s inspection is performed. Also, buyers tend to inflate the true cost of repairs during the negotiation phase due to lack of practical knowledge or access to affordable trade professionals. The fewer items your buyers inspector identifies, the more money you can keep in your pocket during the transaction. As for the things we can recommend you address pre-sale, you’ll have the opportunity to address them as you see fit, on your time schedule and using the professionals that meet your budget and philosophy.
Additionally, consult with an experienced real-estate agent to get a better understanding of the market trends in your area and what improvements might turbocharge your potential asking price of your home.