Selling your home is a process. Your real estate agent can help you create a checklist of things to do. One item on the list you may not have thought about is a pre-listing home inspection. Why would you want to pay for an inspection before placing your home on the market? Let’s look at the benefits of a pre-listing home inspection.
Learn About the Condition of Your Property
Every home will have a few issues that should be repaired before listing. If you’ve lived in the house, you are aware of some of them. Do you have a window that allows rain in? Does the back door stick? The carpet in the living room could be starting to come up around the edges.
There are issues that you will be familiar with from living in the house. However, it’s likely that there are also hidden problems you don’t know about. One of the benefits of a pre-listing inspection is learning about problems ahead of time. This knowledge provides options for addressing the issues. You’ll avoid being shocked by problems a buyer’s inspection might uncover while a deal is on the table.
Benefits of a Pre-Listing Home Inspection: DIY Options
You might be able to handle simple repairs yourself. If you wait until the buyer’s inspection, the buyer will request that you hire professional contractors to fix any defects. This often costs more than repairing problems yourself. If your buyer’s inspection finds a small plumbing issue or an electrical outlet in need of replacement, they’ll want a professional plumber or electrician to take care of it. This can add a few hundred dollars to your costs in comparison to a DIY fix.
Choose Your Own Contractor
When your pre-listing inspection uncovers defects that you can’t fix yourself, you have the flexibility to choose your own contractor. You also have extra time to shop around to find a contractor that offers the best price, skills, and availability.
Waiting to fix those issues after a buyer has their inspection requires you to appease the buyer’s time expectations. This usually means you’re rushing through the process and spending more money to have speedy repairs.
Set a Fair Price With a Pre-Listing Home Inspection
Another reason to order a pre-listing inspection is that it will help you decide how to price your home. If you choose not to fix problems, you can reduce your asking price. If you do fix the problems, you can set the price higher. Work with your realtor to determine the best sale price based on the condition of the property. You might get a little less for the house but that may be more appealing than paying out-of-pocket for repairs.
Brick n’ Beam Home Inspections offers home inspections, including pre-listing inspections, to St. Louis County, Jefferson County, and surrounding areas. Contact us to request an appointment.