Although not required, home sellers can get an inspection before listing their house on the market to avoid surprises during the buyer’s inspection. With this time-sensitive transaction, it’s best to eliminate the unknown that might derail the sale.

There are many benefits of hiring a professional home inspector to conduct a pre-listing inspection. First, you will know the condition of the house and receive improvement advice. When you know what’s wrong with the house, you can make repairs. Fixing maintenance issues may lead to a higher chance of selling your home. You can also use this as an opportunity to better market your house—once you’ve made the renovations you can advertise them on your listing to attract buyers. The pre-listing inspection report can be a tool to help determine the price of your property. According to Zillow, strengthened negotiating power is another advantage of pre-listing inspections. You can potentially mitigate negotiations with the buyer if they know up front about items you’ve repaired. This creates less stress for both parties involved.

The seller has the upper hand in choosing who does the repairs. If you forgo a pre-listing inspection and wait until the buyer receives their report, they may select a costly contractor to complete updates. Pre-listing inspections also speed along the sales process if you’re looking for a quick turnaround. The buyer simply wants to know if the house is a legitimate investment. Pre-listing inspections show how serious and transparent you are, attracting similar buyers who are ready to put in an offer.

If you're in need of a knowledgeable inspector that goes above and beyond, look no further than HomeTeam. Call us or schedule online—we'd love to help get your home ready to sell!