Is Your Home Ready to be SOLD?

By Jenni Boucher

Selling a home is exciting and stressful process. By putting your home on the market, you are opening up your home for examination and evaluation by potential buyers and their real estate agents. Make selling your home an easier and less stressful experience by having a seller’s home inspection before the house goes on the market.

Why have a seller’s home inspection done? The reasons are many!

For sellers, it can often be hard to notice or evaluate the severity of defects in a home that they have lived in for years. Potential buyers will be scrutinizing nearly every detail of the home to ensure that they are making a wise investment, possibly the largest investment they will ever make. Having the inspection done prior to having the house put on the market has numerous advantages, including:

• You can choose your own inspector rather than be at the mercy of the buyer’s inspector selection.
• Seller inspections are easier to schedule since you are not working under the time constraint of a 5-10 day inspection addendum, allowing the seller to schedule the inspection around their other obligations.
• The inspector will be able to alert the seller to any immediate concerns, such as major defects or signs of an active termite infestation.
• The seller can assist the inspector during the inspection and identify any recently repaired or replaced items, or areas of concern.
• Knowing what issues are present ahead of time gives the seller the ability to repair the defects or at least get realistic estimates of the repair costs to price the home accordingly. Repair estimates obtained by buyers are often over-inflated and can dramatically affect the final price of the home. Having the repairs done prior to putting the house on the market also helps the house to show better.
• The report provides a third-party unbiased opinion that often helps relieve the concerns and unfounded suspicions of potential buyers.
• A clean inspection report is a great marketing tool to set the home apart from other competing listings and can help justify a higher price.
• The report might encourage the buyer to waive the inspection contingency, and help lighten negotiations and 11-th hour re-negotiations.
• The deal is less likely to fall apart, like they often do, when the buyer’s inspection report unexpectedly reveals a last-minute problem.
• The report provides full-disclosure from future legal claims, and also helps establish credibility with the buyer that the seller is being up-front and honest in their dealings.

There are several advantages for the real estate agent as well:

• Sellers can schedule their inspection at their own convenience with the inspector of their choice with little involvement from the agent.
• The seller is able to accompany the inspector during the inspection, allowing the seller to see their home through the eyes of a critical third-party, thus making sellers more realistic about their asking price.
• The agent is alerted to any immediate safety concerns prior to the home being toured by other agents or potential buyers.
• Repairs made ahead of time help the home to show better and can justify a higher asking price.
• Reports available online will entice buyers to tour the home.
• Clean reports and reports with reasonable work estimates are both great marketing tools.
• Negotiations go smoother with fewer unexpected surprises, reducing the need for 11-th hour re-negotiations, and the deal is less likely to fall through due to an unexpected surprise.
• Reports provide full disclosure protection from future legal claims.

Having a sellers’ inspection done also benefits the buyer:

• The inspection is done already and was paid for by the seller.
• The report provides an impartial third-party opinion on the condition of the home that is useful prior to making an offer on the home.
• The problems are corrected, or at least acknowledged, prior to starting negotiations.
• Negotiations go smoother and unexpected surprise defects are virtually eliminated.
• The report could assist in acquiring financing.
• The seller inspection allows the buyer to sweeten the offer without increasing the offering price by waiving the inspection contingency.

Whether you are buying, selling, or listing a home, having a sellers’ inspection done prior to the home being put on the market carries numerous advantages for all parties involved – it is truly a win-win-win situation.