What is it?
A pre-sale home inspection is effectively a report card for the visible condition of your home, with a focus on health, safety, and latent defects. Getting a home inspection before you list allows you to see your home as a buyer will see it after completing their own home inspection. The pre-listing home inspection may identify issues with your home that you may not be aware of, giving you an opportunity to correct those issues before putting your home on the market.
Why do it?
The majority of home buyers will hire a home inspector to complete an inspection after they write an offer on your home. A pre-sale home inspection may reveal what some of the objections to a home purchase may be, thus allowing you to overcome those objections in advance. It will also make the condition of your home more transparent to potential buyers, potentially saving you money on home repairs. The pre-listing home inspection gives you leverage during the negotiation process for a more streamlined sale. If you want to make repairs based on the inspection report, you are able to choose the service provider who completes the repairs, whereas if you waited until the buyer completed a home inspection, they would be able to choose the service provider.
How does it work?
Before you list, contact a home inspector—we recommend Keystone Home Inspections. Schedule your home inspection (typically booked 7–10 days in advance). The inspector will spend 2–3 hours in your home and take photos of its condition. Share your inspection report with your listing agent, who will review the report and suggest any necessary repairs. Make any recommended repairs and share the receipts with your listing agent for proof if needed.
About The Author
Josh Young’s duty as a listing specialist is to set an aggressive pricing and marketing strategy, inform, negotiate and guide clients to the best decision when selling their home. Following his family’s legacy, he strives to provide an extraordinary client experience. Having grown up in the area with real estate in his blood, Josh has established himself as an expert resource. Looking to sell your home? Partner with Josh to make the most of your home sale.
