SELLERS - How to Decide if You Should Get a Pre-Listing or Pre-Sale Home Inspection
Getting a home inspection is a good idea if:
You want to avoid the last minute surprises of a buyer home inspection. Sometimes both parties are very surprised at what is found in an inspection. Suddenly there is work, aggravation, and a small measure of irrationality as both parties wrestle with who will do what.
If you want an extra edge in marketing the home. The competition is fierce; any extra effort or component to make the home more appealing to buyers will help set your home apart from everyone else. Getting an inspection also indicates to the potential buyers that you are serious about taking care of the home.
The home is already in good condition. A home inspection will probably turn up some items that you are unaware of, but they will be small items and you can take care of these relatively easily. The inspection then becomes a marketing tool when the inspector produces an ?all items corrected? report. This is free.
Getting a home inspection may not be a good idea if:
You know that there are numerous problems with the home and would rather not dig up the details on them. This is a little ostrich-like, but some sellers feel that it is better to not disclose defects and rely on the "buyer beware? doctrine even though he or she knows there may be ramifications at contract due diligence time.
The home has very serious known defects and is being sold ?as is ? where is?. There is little point in illustrating the multiple deficiencies of a home by the seller in an inspection report when they know the buyer will probably be ordering their own inspection.
If you are asking a high price for the home and sticking to it ? by the time the home sells it may be years down the road and the inspection will not be a timely tool.
Cost. Why should you spend money on a home inspection when your buyers may also order a home inspection? The answer is, for the reasons above - to eliminate the surprises. We also can solve the cost problem - instead of spending $350 - $600 on an inspection (typical rates for 1500 - 4000 square foot homes), ask us about our specials. How does $299 or $399 sound? Call us today at 1-800-738-8781.
