In this tough market many home sellers are looking for a way to set their home apart from the competition. A great common sense way to do that is to offer a pre-inspection of the property. This is something that I’ve recommend even in a seller’s market because there are many benefits, not the least of which is making the transaction smooth and worry free for both sides. In this type of market offering a benefit to the buyer that will relieve them of some of the stress that goes along with purchasing a new home may be enough to help them choose your home among the many similar homes currently available in your area.

 

A pre-inspection can eliminate a lot of stress on the seller’s side too. Buyers in this market have a number of homes to choose from and they have that in mind if anything negative is found during the home inspection. A buyer will be much quicker to walk away from a home if they know they can find something else very easily. This can make the home inspection process very nerve wracking for the sellers. Instead of holding your breath and biting your nails while the buyers conduct an inspection, why not conduct a pre-inspection. That way everyone knows exactly what they’re getting into ahead of time. 

 

Offering a pre-inspection will probably not eliminate the buyers need to conduct their own inspection. But it does eliminate surprises on both parts and it allows the sellers an opportunity to make repairs before they scare off buyers. 

 

What is a pre-inspection? Basically it’s exactly the same type of inspection that a home buyer will perform before closing on a property.  An inspector will perform a visual inspection of the property and all the major systems in the home. The average inspection can take 2-4 hours depending on the size and age of the home. A seller should look for the same things that a buyer would when shopping around for a home inspector. In addition to looking at prices a seller should make sure to find a licensed and ASHI certified inspector. Hiring the inspector that charges the least could end up costing a lot more in the long run.