Selling a house is a multifaceted process, and one aspect to consider is whether or not you pay a professional to carry out an inspection of the property prior to listing it.
There are benefits and downsides to doing this, so let’s go over the main advantages and issues you’ll need to consider before you make a decision.
Problems Will Be Identified Immediately
With the help of a home inspector you will get an in-depth overview of the condition of your home, as they will cast their expert, impartial eye over the interior and exterior in search of aspects which might be of concern.
Specifically, if an inspector identifies minor maintenance issues that are easily addressed, but which you hadn’t noticed yourself, this will give you the opportunity to fix them, and avoid this becoming a sticking point when viewings begin.
Likewise, if a more significant problem is unearthed, then you can either make the decision to work to rectify it, or to factor in the cost of fixing it as part of the asking price you place on your property when it is listed.
Home Inspection Costs Will Increase
The most obvious downside of hiring a home inspector is that this will add an additional expense to the long list that inevitably stacks up when selling a property.
Prices vary, but you could be paying as much as $500 to get an inspection carried out by a qualified, accredited and experienced home inspector.
Base level fees can also be further inflated in the case that additional testing is needed, such as in the event that there are concerns about a property’s electrical wiring.
Buyers Will Trust You
The last thing you want is for buyers to feel like you are trying to pull the wool over their eyes, perhaps by hiding the true state of your home by deliberately choosing not to have an inspection carried out before you list it.
Conversely, if you have paid for an inspection, you can then present the findings to the people who are thinking about making an offer. This will create a firm foundation of trust on which the rest of the transaction can be built.
Disclosing Issues Is a Legal Requirement
Everything that a home inspector uncovers during their visit, good and bad, must legally be disclosed to buyers. This includes both major issues and minor niggles, which might become a bit of a millstone around your listing once it goes live.
Again, it is a bit of a gamble in this regard, as a property with a clean bill of health will sell well, while one that has a laundry list of small gripes could be off-putting.
Accurate Pricing Is Assured
Lots of property listings are published without buyers giving a realistic or accurate representation of the home’s value. You could overshoot the mark or undervalue it because you simply don’t have the industry knowledge and market expertise to get this right.
A home inspector’s report will make it far easier to gauge how to price a property, both according to its condition and in the context of the broader market.
Additional Inspections Are Unavoidable
You might be unwilling to get a home inspection before listing because you recognize that any buyers who make offers on your property which you then accept will also get their own inspection carried out.
This can feel like you are doubling down on the work involved. Since a buyer has an obligation to pay for the inspection, it magnifies the issue of cost for you as the seller.
Worse still, if a buyer’s inspection reveals issues that yours did not, this could throw yet another spanner in the works. That’s why it’s essential to choose a reputable inspector if you do choose to go through with it yourself.
Uncertainty Is Avoided
For plenty of sellers, a home inspection gives them peace of mind prior to listing a property. Rather than wondering whether a buyer’s inspection will pinpoint major flaws, you’ll have all the information you need ahead of time.
In turn, this means that you won’t have to face up to the likelihood of needing to renegotiate on the price of the property further down the line.
Final Thoughts
Generally speaking, having a home inspection before listing a property is a good idea in almost every case.
While it will come at a cost, this will easily be offset by the savings of money, time and stress that you will make by knowing about all the foibles and flaws of your home.
We hope you found this blog post 7 Pros and Cons of Getting a Home Inspection Before Listing A House useful. Be sure to check out our post How to Choose a Good Realtor: Major Client Misconceptions for more great tips!
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