Benefits of a Pre-listing Home Inspection
Much like anticipating lab results from your doctor or waiting to find out if your child is accepted to their favorite University, home inspections can be a nerve-racking experience. When your home is under the microscope, you may worry that the sale will fall through if the report isn’t squeaky clean. The truth is that no home is perfect. Fortunately, there are steps that you can take to prepare yourself (and your home) for a home inspection. Keep reading as we discuss the benefits of a pre-listing home inspection.
Benefits of a Pre-listing Home Inspection
It’s important to understand that a home inspection is not a pass or fail test. On the other hand, deficiencies uncovered during the home inspection often open the door for renegotiation. Most realtors will confirm, the seller is not obligated to fix anything uncovered during the home inspection. However, the buyers can back out during the option period if they are unsatisfied.
What is a Home Inspection?
A home inspection is typically scheduled by the buyer after the seller accepts the buyer’s offer. At that time, the buyer hires a licensed professional home inspector to perform a visual observation. In accordance with the Texas Real Estate Commission’s standards, the home inspector will identify health, safety, and/or mechanical issues.
What Happens During a Home Inspection?
The average home in Dallas – Fort Worth is around 2,000 square feet. For a newer home with a concrete slab foundation, it typically takes about three hours to complete the home inspection. During the home inspection, the home inspector will examine both the interior and exterior of the house. He or she will record any broken, defective, or hazardous issues with the house and the area surrounding the house. For a more detailed list, read our Home Inspection Checklist.
Buyer’s Home Inspection vs. Pre-listing Home Inspection
The aforementioned home inspection, in which the buyer hires the inspector after the seller accepts their offer, is known as a buyer’s inspection. A seller’s inspection, also known as a pre-listing home inspection, happens before the house is listed for sale. Many sellers choose to have their home inspected prior to listing so they can fix any potential issues beforehand.
Do I Need a Pre-Listing Inspection?
If you are planning to put your house on the market, you may want to consider scheduling a pre-listing home inspection.
There are many benefits to getting a home inspection prior to listing:
- A pre-listing home inspection can eliminate the element of surprise and make the entire process less stressful for the seller.
- A pre-listing home inspection can speed up the closing process and save the seller money in the long run.
- Sellers will have the advantage of displaying the home inspection report during open houses and showings. We suggest checking off any items that have been repaired as well as providing receipts. Buyers are more likely to make an offer if they feel the home is well-maintained.
- The major benefit of a pre-listing home inspection is that it can help prevent offer renegotiations, extensive buyer repair requests, and the possibility of buyers walking away while already in contract.
As you can see, there are many benefits to scheduling a pre-listing home inspection. We hope you will consider this as you move forward with the sale of your home. Thomas Engineering Consultants provides fast, accurate home inspections and engineering reports to help buyers (and sellers!) make an informed decision regarding their home. Call 817-576-1973 to schedule a pre-listing home inspection today!