Sell your home with confidence! When selling your home, a pre-inspection eliminates any surprises when a buyer gets their inspection done. While normally a part of the buying process, there are many reasons why a homeowner will get a pre-inspection.

Typically, a home owner will have a home inspection done once their offer is accepted. While some might want to save a few bucks and skip the inspection, it’s not recommended. Additionally, mortgage lenders and insurance companies may require it before doing business with the buyer.

While preparing to sell your home, consider a pre-sale inspection to get ahead of the buyer’s inspection.

How do you know that your home is ready to hit the market?

Before listing your home for sale, it’s a good idea to have a pre-sale home inspection. This will give you an idea of what potential buyers might find during their inspection, and will give you time to fix any issues that could arise.

While it’s not required, getting a pre-sale home inspection can help you avoid any surprises down the road, and could potentially help you sell your home faster.
 

Pros & Cons of a Pre-Listing Inspection

How do you know if a pre-inspection is worth it? Here are some pros and cons:
 

Pros

Pre-Inspection means fewer surprises. As a certified home inspector on Long Island, we check over 1,000 items in a home. We want to uncover any hidden problems, whether they are dangerous, expensive, or simple to resolve. The main purpose of a home inspection is to see which items will impact the value of the home. Getting a pre-inspection eliminates the surprise of costly repairs, and allows you do simple repairs that make the home more appealing.

You will have time to fix problems. Some problems can be costly. These are typically the ones involving the major systems, such as the plumbing. You can fix problems immediately, rather than waiting for the seller to require you to fix them. Furthermore, you will have a list of simple fixes that can improve the seller’s inspection. Things like replacing lightbulbs and chimney caps instills confidence in the buyer that you have been taking good care of your home.

Less likelihood for negotiations. After the buyer has their inspection done, they may want to negotiate. Using the items on the inspection, they will attempt to renegotiate the price. Negotiating over the home inspection is a common hurdle. However, with a pre-sale inspection, you’re aware of the issues from the beginning. With that information, you are able to price your home accurately, fix the problems, or simply make the buyer aware before they put in their offer.

 

Cons

It can conflict with the buyer’s inspection. Basically, you choose New Home Inspectors and John does a thorough job. But if the buyer’s inspector picks another company, they may not be as thorough. As a result, you may pay for repairs that are unnecessary or start at a lower price for your home.

Pre-Inspections may obligate you to disclose findings. New York State law requires you to disclose known defects to the buyer. In fact, omitting facts can make you liable should there be any substantial damage. Problems with the major home systems will typically cause a home inspection to fail. While you don’t want to hide anything, you also do not want to shine light on things that would not have been an issue in the first place.

 

A Pre-Listing Inspection is Right for Most Sellers

A pre-listing inspection offers so many benefits. It is proactive and puts to ahead of the curve. With an inspection done pre-sale, you can plan better and possibly get a better price on your home.

A pre-inspected home builds potential buyer confidence. By having your inspector’s findings and the corresponding receipts, you can show buyers that you’re being upfront about the condition of your home. This will give buyers peace of mind and potentially increase your home’s final selling price.