Pre-listing Inspections

Home inspections have traditionally been for the benefit of the purchaser. Pre-inspected listings benefit all parties - purchasers, vendors and Realtors.

Move In Certified yard signs attract potential buyers.

The hard copy of the report is left at the home for buyers to evaluate and also hosted on www.FetchReport.com for all potential buyers and agents to evaluate at their leisure. 

Deals Won't Fall Through
Home inspections, performed as a condition of the offer, can kill deals. Sometimes this is because the purchaser gets cold feet; sometimes there's a big problem no one knew about. Sometimes it is because the house has been mis-represented; sometimes it is because the home inspector scared the purchasers by not explaining that minor and typical problems are just that - minor and typical.

If the home inspection is performed prior to the house being listed, all parties will be aware of the physical condition of the house before an offer is drawn. There will be no surprises after the fact. Deals will not fall through.

Pre-inspected Listings Avoid Renegotiation
In a buyers' market, most houses have to be sold twice. It takes a lot of work to get a signed Agreement of Purchase and Sale. Then the home inspection is done and the purchaser wants to renegotiate.

If all parties know the condition of the house prior to the offer, there is no need for renegotiation. As most real estate agents know, renegotiation is very difficult. Vendors have already mentally sold the house; purchasers are suffering buyers' remorse. Egos, pride and frustration can muddy the already emotional waters.

A vendor who pays for a home inspection will be further ahead than one who has to renegotiate. He of she may even sell the house faster.

Unrealistic Vendors
An inspection at the time of listing can also help a Realtor deal with a vendor who has unrealistic expectations. The inspection report is good ammunition for explaining why you can't ask top bucks for a house which is not in top condition.

Repairs Prior To Sale
Sometimes, the home inspection will reveal items which should be repaired immediately. A pre-inspected listing allows the vendor to repair the problem prior to putting the house on the market.

If the inspection occurs after the Agreement of Purchase and Sale, the purchaser could walk, renegotiate or, depending on the inspection clause, the vendor may have the option to repair. A repair done by an unmotivated vendor may not be the best repair and may not meet the purchasers' expectations. This has caused more than one deal not to close.

Peace Of Mind For The Purchaser
There is no doubt that part of the value of a home inspection is a guided tour of the house for the prospective purchaser. The inspection company can return to do a walk-through with the purchaser, if requested.

Reputable Inspection Companies
Pre-inspected listings will only have value if the home inspection company is perceived to be reputable, qualified and properly insured. Prospective purchasers will have little or no faith in a report done by someone they perceive to be in the vendors', or Realtors' pocket.

Summary
We believe that the future of home inspection lies in pre-inspected listings. Offers are cleaner and deals are less likely to be renegotiated or fall through. Pre-inspected listings afford purchasers, vendors and Realtors the information and protection they all deserve.

A new marketing tool for selling a home – a home inspection at the time of the listing – is gaining momentum as the residential real estate market grows less driven by demand.  While professional home inspections are not a new concept, the idea that sellers can benefit by them is beginning to gain acceptance as the number of seller facing difficult negotiations over repairs escalates.  Research shows that homebuyers negotiate $2 for every $1 worth of repairs found during the home inspection.

For example, if your roof needs replacement at a cost of $1,500 your buyer will begin the negotiation at $3,000!  While you can certainly walk away from the deal,  you will be under pressure to close and valuable market time may be lost.

However, negotiations routinely occur on conditions found on the home inspection that were previously not disclosed.  By having an inspection done before listing your home and disclosing needed repairs, you control repair negotiations and could save thousands of dollars.

For more details on this exciting program be sure to contact us!

Having your home inspected by a NACHI inspector before you list is the recommendation found in the new edition of the book, Sell Your Home For More by Nick Gromicko. Eventually your buyers are going to conduct an inspection. You may as well know what they are going to find by getting there first. The author points out that having an inspection performed ahead of time helps in many other ways: It allows you to see your home through the eyes of a critical third-party. It helps you to price your home realistically. It permits you to make repairs ahead of time so that ... Defects won't become negotiating stumbling blocks later. There is no delay in obtaining the Use and Occupancy permit. You have the time to get reasonably priced contractors or make the repairs yourself, if qualified. It may encourage the buyer to waive the inspection contingency. It may alert you of items of immediate personal concern, such as radon gas or active termite infestation. It may relieve prospect's concerns and suspicions. It reduces your liability by adding professional supporting documentation to your disclosure statement. Alerting you to immediate safety issues before agents and visitors tour your home. Copies of the inspection report along with receipts for any repairs should be made available to potential buyers.