Selling your home? If you’re getting ready to sell your Home, there’s one crucial step that can make all the difference: a Pre-Inspection.
You might question, “Isn’t that something the Buyer does?”
As a Real Estate professional, I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen a Homeowner shocked by problems that could have derailed the Sale of their home. That’s why, early in my career, I decided to add this step to every Listing I manage. I learned the hard way after one failed sale, and I’m here to help you avoid the same mistakes.
In my experience, nothing is more gut-wrenching than informing a Homeowner that their sale has fallen through — especially when it could have been prevented. In fact, a Pre-Inspection can even net the Home Owner a better selling price for their home.
A Pre-Inspection on your home is a simple but powerful way to ensure your sale goes through smoothly, with no nasty surprises.
Here’s how it benefits you, the Homeowner & Seller, and why it should be an essential part of your Selling process.
Even the most meticulous Homeowners often don’t know about hidden issues in their homes.
Whether it’s mold in the attic, outdated wiring, or plumbing that’s prone to leaking, these problems can threaten your sale.
By doing a Pre-Inspection before listing your home, you take control.
You’ll know about these potential deal-breakers in advance and can decide whether to address them or negotiate your sale price accordingly, when selling your home.
A Pre-Inspection reveals any of these issues so it is not a surprise that comes after the Homeowner has accepted an offer on the property, and the Buyer who is now inspecting the property discovers it first, before firming up the sale.
When Buyers conduct their own Home Inspection and uncover these issues, it’s too late to act.
No surprises. No stress.
A Pre-Inspection not only reveals hidden problems but also gives you a clearer picture of your home’s condition.
Buyers are looking for a property that meets or exceeds their expectations.
The Pre-Inspection demonstrates the home is worth the money the Homeowner is asking for it.
When Buyers see a home with a clean inspection report, they know it’s worth the asking price.
The home becomes even more attractive to the Buyer.
That’s why a Pre-Inspection can make your Listing stand out and boost its appeal, ultimately helping you secure a better offer.
Let’s say your Pre-Inspection reveals a few issues. No problem. You have the chance to fix them before your home hits the market.
The Inspector is happy to update the Home Inspection Report to accurately reflect any repairs or updates a Homeowner has made.
When selling your home, this avoids losing a sale over a negative Inspection OR having a Buyer re-negotiate the price offered due to the deficiencies that were found. It most cases the discount achieved with that re-negotiated offer is much more than the cost of repairing the deficiency.
Whether it’s replacing a faulty furnace, updating the electrical outlets, or patching a Roof, taking care of these repairs beforehand can increase your home’s value and salability.
A Pre-Inspection can also save you from a lowball offer based on inspection findings.
Sometimes, a Homeowner simply can’t make all the repairs, whether due to time, budget, or lack of contractors.
That’s where transparency comes in. If you’re unable to fix an issue before Listing your home, you may need to disclose it up front verbally or in writing, depending on the problem (ie. water penetration). This protects the Homeowner from any future litigation that may occur if the Buyer purchases the Home and the problem has not been disclosed to them. This step not only keeps you legally protected but can prevent losing the interest of potential Buyers.
Regardless the deficiency, at least realize the Buyers are going to find it. Rather than appear to have hidden the problem, disclosing the issue, builds trust with the Buyers who will appreciate your honesty.
A Pre-Inspection report ensures you’re not blindsided with a nasty surprise and allows you to disclose any deficiencies to potential buyers as well as suggestions on how the problem can be dealt with.
If repairs are needed but you can’t handle them before listing your home due to timing, financial restraints or lack of resources,
the Pre-inspection gives you the opportunity to get repair estimates from multiple sources.
Before we disclose the deficiencies or issues found in your home during the Pre-Inspection to any potential Buyers, we do a little ground work.
The Realtor can assist the Home Owner in obtaining two or more quotes from licensed Contractors, who could be hired to address the problem for the future owner.
These quotes will help you set a fair listing price and provide potential Buyers with the information they need to understand the cost of fixing any issues. When you present these quotes, it shows you’re proactive and willing to work with buyers — which can make them feel more confident about proceeding with the sale.
By providing the quotes and allowing for the price to be adjusted to cover the cost of the deficiency, the Buyer is left with the impression that the Seller is upfront and honest. This calms any concerns the Buyer may have and actually gives him confidence in moving forward with the sale.
These quotes can also establish the negotiating room in the price when the Homeowner receives an offer and helps prevent a Buyer from overestimating the cost of the rectifying the issue by hundreds or thousands of dollars.
In other words, a Buyer who is contemplating the cost of a potential repair (without experience of quotes) may over-estimate the cost of a furnace, roof or electrical panel. By providing two to three estimates from licensed contractors, you are in essence, establishing the value of the repair and the potential amount of any deduction to your listing price.
When selling your home, one of the most common conditions in an Offer to Purchase contract is the home inspection clause.
By providing Buyers with a Pre-inspection Report upfront, you often eliminate this requirement.
Buyers who feel confident about the home’s condition are more likely to make an offer without an inspection condition, which speeds up the process and reduces the chances of the deal falling through.
If the Buyer still wants his own Inspector to do a Home Inspection, you can be confident of the findings and not worry any surprises will pop up.
With a Pre-Inspection Report in hand and available to Buyers, along with other vital information we collect when preparing a home for sale, we make it as easy as possible for a Buyer to move forward.
A well-prepared Home, with all issues addressed or disclosed, allows Buyers to make an informed decision and submit a solid offer.
This means fewer delays, and no last-minute surprises, making the entire process smoother for everyone involved.
Selling your Home isn’t just about getting the best price — it’s about ensuring a seamless offer process and a successful closing.
And that is the goal for a Seller, isn’t it?
To have the home prepared and presented properly and set the stage for a quick sale for the most money.
As your Realtor, it’s my job to protect you, guide you, and recommend the steps that will lead to the most successful sale possible.
When selling your home, a Pre-Inspection is one of the many steps I employ when preparing your property for the market.
Being proactive, means you not only avoid headaches down the road, but you also set your home up for a quicker sale and potentially a higher price.
If you’re ready to take the next step and Pre-inspect your Home before listing, I’m here to help.
Let’s ensure your home is ready for the market and that you’re fully prepared for a successful sale.
Contact me today to schedule your home’s Pre-Inspection.
We’ll work together to make your sale smooth, fast, and as profitable as possible.
Don’t leave your sale to chance — let’s make it a success from the start!
If you would like to know more about how I prepare a home for sale, reach out and I am happy to discuss the steps I take and why they are so critically important!
For more Smart Tips visit our Smart Tips page.
Check out our Top 6 Reasons Professional Photos of your Home are a MUST! or Top 5 Things That Buyers Freak Out About blogs.
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Real Estate Smarts
Christine Domina
416-873-4747
Peterborough County &
Surrounding Areas
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